This paper is a study in the hermeneutics of the local wild food plants and identity
politics in Enshi Prefecture. It examines the meanings that have been constructed
around these wild foods and endeavors to connect these meanings to larger cultural
issues, specifically how these foods and their various meanings relate to the
construction of the local ethnic identity. The analysis suggests that efforts to
rebuild the positive image and meanings associated with these foods will enable
sustainable development, improve local economies, and facilitate biodiversity conservation.
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