Miguel Alexiades has conducted research in Amazonian ethnobotany, ethnoecology, community health and medicinal plants since 1985. His doctoral thesis examines the role of plants in health related knowledge and behaviour of the Amazonian Ese Eja, particularly in the context of recent social and ecological change. He has collaborated extensively with the regional indigenous federation  of Madre de Dios, Peru, working as a facilitator, and trainer, as well as conducting applied research.  Activities have included setting up a local ethnobotanical database, conducting ethnobotanical inventories, establishing a local herbarium, developing a participatory mapping program and producing written and audiovisual materials to facilitate the transmission of local knowledge education.

Selected Publications

Alexiades, M.N. 2004. Ethnobotany and Globalization: Science and Ethics at the Turn of the Century. In: T. J. S. Carlson and L. Maffi, Luisa, eds. Ethnobotany and Conservation of Biocultural  Diversity. Advances in Economic Botany, volume 15.  Bronx, New York: The New York Botanical Gardens Press. 

Alexiades, M.N.. and P. Shanley, eds.  2004.  Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation.  Case Studies of Non-Timber Forest Products.  Volume 3, Latin America. Bogor, Indonesia: CIFOR

Alexiades, M.N. and S. A. Laird.   2002.  Laying the Foundation: Equitable Biodiversity Relationships.  Pages 3-15, in: S. A. Laird, ed. Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge: Equitable Partnerships in Practice.  London: Earthscan.

Alexiades, M.N., ed. 1996. Selected Guidelines for Ethnobotanical Research: A Field Manual.  Advances in Economic Botany, vol.10. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx.

Alexiades, M.N. and D. Lacaze. 1996.  "FENAMAD's Program in Traditional Medicine: An Integrated Approach to Health Care in the Peruvian Amazon". In: M. J. Balick, E. Elisabetsky and S. Laird, eds. Medicinal Resources of the Tropical Forest: Biodiversity and Its Importance to Human Health. Columbia University Press New York.