“Man does not live by plants alone”. Food and culinary heritage and animal biodiversity

Abstract

The relationship between the food and culinary heritage, and the conservation of animal biodiversity is increasingly tense due to a multiplicity of complex factors that go far beyond the argument of overexploitation by humanity. The contributions that anthropology and archeology can do to this topic are discussed taking as reference framework the parameters established by the “Policy for the knowledge, the safeguard and the promotion of the traditional food and cuisine of Colombia” (Ministry of Culture, 2012), and based on the information derived from anthropological, archaeological and ethnobiological researches conducted in the Caribbean Region of Colombia on the consumption of wild fauna. It is argued that in the current social, political and economic context of the country, the integration between multi and transdisciplinary studies, and the longterm scope perspective offered by archeology are necessary strategies not only to understand the complex equation of this problem, but to propose concrete actions that, in a more effective way, allow to relieve this tension, contributing in turn to the food security of the populations. Likewise, there is an urgent need for strategies to identify and propose strategies to protect the cultural heritage associated with feeding and consumption of wildlife, based on a deeper knowledge about the variability and feasibility of safeguarding these traditions. In this sense, the reflections presented here do not tend to legalize or prohibit the use of wildlife per se, but instead emphasize the importance of deepening the knowledge of this variability in different geographical and temporary contexts that, with a broader approach, allow proposing strategies for the protection of food and natural heritage that are more viable and sustainable.