Relationships of sustenance and care: Foraging from and stewardship of urban public trees in Valledupar, Colombia

Abstract

Recent research on urban nature and wellbeing relationships has identified multiple potential pathways for nature connection, including foraging and stewardship. Yet, much of our current knowledge about these human-nature relationships is from research in the global North. With different social-ecological contexts in Latin America, specific research on these place-based benefits and relationships is needed. Here, we examine urban foraging, stewardship, and relationships between these practices in a mid-sized city: Valledupar, Colombia. We applied surveys of residents, businesses, and civic organizations to understand urban foraging, tree stewardship by individuals and groups, and relationships among these practices. Our survey results identify trees are used for fruit, fuel, and medicine, across individuals of all socioeconomic levels, as well as businesses. We also find individuals and businesses are caring for public street trees, through watering, pruning, and fertilizing. These data show strong linkages between public tree foraging and public tree care, highlighting the potential for each activity to strengthen the other. Our findings contribute to a body of literature highlighting the role that foraging can play in increasing nature connectedness and in developing associated practices of care. This work also contributes to less explored areas of stewardship – the role of individuals and businesses in caring for a landscape – finding evidence of public tree care from both groups.