Abstract:

The Zhuang ethnic people have a deep and expansive culture; many aspects of which have been documented through literature and field research, including acidic foods, textile dyeing, toponymy, literature and art, natural worship, folk customs and customary laws, traditional ecological concepts, and traditional medical. Here, we analyzed the protective effects of cultural diversity on biodiversity. The results show that: (1) The cultural diversity of Zhuang ethnic people and local biodiversity are closely interrelated. Rich biodiversity has generated a colorful traditional culture, and the formation and development of traditional culture can directly or indirectly enrich the local biodiversity; (2) The traditional culture and knowledge created of the Zhuang people in the long-term living history has greatly promoted the conservation and sustainable use of local biodiversity, and the protection of biodiversity will further guarantee the inheritance of local traditional culture. This paper also discusses the developing status and threatened factors of traditional knowledge and culture. We propose some suggestions to ensure the continuity of Zhuang traditional culture and use traditional knowledge sustainably: enhancing the protection of traditional knowledge and traditional culture by strengthening publicity and legislation, establishing traditional knowledge databases and developing rural tourism.

Key words: Zhuang people, biodiversity, traditional culture, traditional knowledge, Guangxi