Vanishing Cultural Landscapes: White Sage,Indigenous Knowledge,and Conservation Across Borders

Abstract

White sage (Salvia apiana Jeps.) is a culturally significant plant for the Kumeyaay people of northern Baja California and southern California. Increasing global demand has intensified its exploitation, raising concerns about habitat degradation and the erosion of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK). This study evaluates the impacts of white sage extraction on sagebrush cultural landscapes through a 6-month collaborative ethnography (2021–2022) in the Kumeyaay village of San José de la Zorra (SJZ), Mexico. Using informal conversations, participant observation, and dialogue with key community members and neighboring Kumeyaay villages, we documented traditional knowledge related to white sage, including harvesting practices and cultural uses. The research began with conversations with community elders and local authorities recognized for their extensive LEK, who introduced the researcher to other knowledgeable individuals. Our findings confirm that white sage is central to Kumeyaay LEK, with documented uses spanning medicinal, spiritual, and practical domains. However, habitat loss driven by land dispossession, commercial overharvesting, urbanization, and climate change threatens both the plant and its associated knowledge system. Spatial analysis of the broader sagebrush ecosystem reveals the loss of traditionally managed landscapes due to urban conversion, further exacerbating ecological decline. Despite these pressures, Kumeyaay continue to employ traditional management strategies, such as rotational harvesting aligned with the plant's reproductive cycle. These findings highlight the importance of Indigenous management practices and support integrated conservation approaches combining Indigenous knowledge, ecological science, and policy frameworks to protect white sage, its habitat, and the cultural traditions it sustains.