20 years of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

The Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (JEET) turns 20 this year! We welcome you to join us in celebrating this milestone and looking back at the key achievements of the entire research field.
20 years of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
Like

Share this post

Choose a social network to share with, or copy the URL to share elsewhere

This is a representation of how your post may appear on social media. The actual post will vary between social networks

For 20 years, the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (JEET) has been advancing the field of ethnobiological sciences through groundbreaking articles that shed light on the inextricable links between human societies and nature, food, and health. While pioneering a diverse, innovative forum for global research on local and indigenous ecological knowledge, the JEET has amplified the role of ethnobiology in advancing research that supports global themes and trends, such as ecological transition, sustainability, urban transformations, and citizen science. 

To celebrate all of this, the JEET Editors have launched an anniversary article collection and created an infographic, which is available here and also below. While the selection of research and key facts in the collection and infographic is only a limited sample of the many JEET highlights, these new assets aim to celebrate and thank the outstanding community of scientists and experts who have been building this journal tirelessly over the past 20 years, and to demonstrate the lasting impact of their work on developments in the field. 

 

How an emerging field ‘at the fringe’ 20 years ago is influencing science and society today 

Ethnobiology, Ethnomedicine and Ethnoecology used to be niche research fields 20+ years ago. Back in 2005, BMC believed in the pioneering and innovative project aimed at filling a gap in the field. Fast forward 20 years, and this research field is now influencing profoundly several arenas in research, society, and policy. Indigenous/Traditional Knowledge (IK/TK) is nowadays a pillar of the: 

      Furthermore, the European Research Council has funded 6 large research projects around Community-centred management of natural resources (ethnoecology), over the past few years.  

      Other ways ethno-bio-medical sciences influence global science and society include:   

      • Indigenous/Traditional Knowledge (IK/TK) informs small-scale entrepreneurial initiatives focusing on the sustainability of food chains and local handicrafts 
      • Citizen science frameworks and projects are largely based on frameworks developed in ethnobiology and ethnomedicine 
      • Strategies devoted to integrating traditional medicine into complementary and alternative medicine.
      The trend of papers focusing on local wild edible plants in the past three decades (source: Scopus)

      Journal key facts 

       92 Editorial Board Members, one third from the Global South 

      • 1st quartile for Biodiversity Conservation in Clarivate Journal Citation Reports 
      • 1st quartile for Plant Sciences in Scopus 
      • 108 articles published in 2024 
      • Submission to acceptance (median) in 2023: 60 days 
      • Downloads 2024: 1,370,000+

       

      Stay tuned for more exciting blog posts published throughout 2025 on the Springer Nature Communities website, celebrating this great milestone for the journal.

      Please sign in or register for FREE

      If you are a registered user on Research Communities by Springer Nature, please sign in

      Follow the Topic

      Agricultural Geography
      Humanities and Social Sciences > Society > Sociology > Economic Geography > Agricultural Geography
      Food Science
      Life Sciences > Biological Sciences > Food Science
      Agroecology
      Life Sciences > Biological Sciences > Ecology > Agroecology
      Plant Ecology
      Life Sciences > Biological Sciences > Plant Science > Plant Ecology
      Applied Ecology
      Life Sciences > Biological Sciences > Ecology > Applied Ecology
      Plant Science
      Life Sciences > Biological Sciences > Plant Science

      Related Collections

      With collections, you can get published faster and increase your visibility.

      Food heritage and food ethnobiology

      We are pleased to announce a call for papers for a new article Collection in JEET, focusing on the multifaceted topic of "Food heritage and food ethnobiology". This Collection aims to explore the rich and diverse intersections of food, culture, and biology, and we invite contributions that delve into the following thematic areas:

      - Folk-Food Medicines: Investigations into traditional food-based remedies and their roles in cultural practices, health, and community well-being. We welcome studies that document, analyze, and interpret the use of food as medicine across different cultures and historical periods.

      - Food Heritagisation Process: Analyses of how certain foods and culinary practices become recognized and preserved as cultural heritage. Papers may explore the mechanisms, policies, and social dynamics involved in the heritagisation process, including the roles of institutions, communities, and individuals.

      - Educational Ethnobiology/Ethnoecology: Research on the educational aspects of ethnobiology and ethnoecology, particularly how knowledge about food and ecological relationships is transmitted across generations. Contributions may address formal and informal educational practices, curriculum development, and the impact of education on food heritage preservation.

      We encourage submissions from a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to anthropology, ecology, biology, history, and education. Interdisciplinary approaches that bridge these fields are particularly welcome.

      All submissions in this collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) will be handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.

      Publishing Model: Open Access

      Deadline: Jan 14, 2026

      Local nature knowledge: recent ethnobiological insight

      In recent years, ethnobiology has become the most prominent field of study that looks at the complex, dynamic, and inextricable interconnections between nature and nature knowledge and practices held by local communities.

      This Collection summarizes recent research at the 2024 International Congress of Ethnobiology in May 2024 in Marrakech. The main issues addressed by the contributions touch upon cultural landscapes, economic botany, community-based-centered approaches and understanding of nature, and environmental education and anthropology.

      All submissions in this Collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) will be handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.

      Publishing Model: Open Access

      Deadline: Oct 30, 2025