Ecological fingerprints of mountain migration in wild food plants of North Macedonian and other Balkan Gorani

The Gorani communities of the Shar Mountain region (located at the crossroads among North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo) possess a rich traditional knowledge, especially on wild food plants (WFPs), home-made teas, and medicinal plants, reflecting both ecological adaptation and cultural identity. After studying the Kosovar and Albanian Gorani over the past decade, this study aimed to document and compare WFP use among these communities on the North Macedonia side, with a particular focus on patterns of continuity and divergence over time and space. Fieldwork involved ethnobotanical surveys, interviews, and participant observation, resulting in an inventory of 65 identified taxa among the Gorani of North Macedonia. A total of 96 botanical species were observed across the three communities. Species such as Allium spp., Cornus mas L., Prunus cerasifera Ehrh., Rubus fruticosus L., Rumex patientia L., and Vaccinium myrtillus L. emerged as a shared cultural core, consistently utilised for culinary purposes. Shannon diversity (H’) and Pielou’s evenness (J’) indices revealed a combination of dominant, commonly used species and a wide array of less frequent taxa, highlighting both nutritional and cultural resilience. A comparative analysis revealed substantial overlap between the Macedonian and Albanian Gorani, reflecting shared ancestry and historical exchange. In contrast, Kosovar Gorani exhibited reduced diversity, likely due to migration, possible cultural assimilation to Serbian culture, and the depopulation of villages. Community-specific taxa illustrate localised ecological knowledge and cultural adaptation. The findings underscore the importance of WFPs as markers of Gorani identity and demonstrate how demographic and socio-political changes influence the transmission and retention of ethnobotanical knowledge. This study contributes to the understanding of biocultural diversity in Balkan Mountain communities and provides a foundation for future conservation and cultural heritage initiatives.