Diversity and Traditional Knowledge Concerning Wild Food Species in a Locally Managed Forest in Nepal

This study documents wild food species in a locally managed forest by the inhabitants of nine villages in the Dolakha district, Nepal. It presents data on their diversity, and traditional knowledge on plant use, propagation and local domestication collected through household and key informant interviews, forest transects inventories and herbaria verifications. Sixty-two wild food plants belonging to 36 families were recorded; most of them (80%) have multiple uses. Many of the food plants are herbaceous (24 species) and produce fruits for consumption (46%). Most of the food plants are consumed by the local communities as snacks, and are supplementary and nutritionally important especially prior to the harvest of staple foods. Elder women (>35 years) are the most knowledgeable group, being able to describe the use of 65% of all edibles as compared to only 23% described by young men (<35 years). Many villagers also possess knowledge on the modes of propagation for the food plants that may be used in the process of domestication. The local communities expressed a strong desire for the establishment of community enterprises based on the wild food resources for long-term income generation sources. To accomplish this, development of collective co-operative strategies based on assessments of the biology, size of harvestable population, sustainable harvesting techniques, and marketing value and demand of promising species would be required. Moreover domestication potential based on species identified in this paper and other species that local communities have knowledge on ought to be encouraged through incentive and policy interventions.     

佤族野生食用植物资源的民族植物学研究

沧源佤族自治县拥有142 820佤族人口,是云南省佤族分布最多的一个县。通过对文献资料的查阅收集和整理,以当地佤族人为向导,运用民族植物学研究方法对沧源野生食用植物资源进行调查。结果表明,沧源佤族民间传统食用野生植物有105种,隶属52科78属。根据民间的食用用途,当地民间野生食用植物可分为野生蔬菜、野果、调味品3种主要类型。其中可作为野生蔬菜食用的有69种,野果有34种,用于调料的植物有8种,野生食用植物以幼嫩枝叶（60.95%）和果类（39.05%）为主。佤族野生食用植物的传统知识,在食物新资源的开发利用方面具有重要的参考价值。     

Ethno-medico-biology of Bhadrak district, Odisha, India

We carried out an ethno-medico-biological investigation in the interior of Bhadrak district, Odisha, India to explore the therapeutic use of traditional plants/animals by local inhabitants. The villagers and rural people used plant and animal species as medicine. We recorded therapeutic use of 18 plant species of 13 families and 12 animal species of seven taxonomic categories. Different plant/animal parts like bark, leaf, flower, seed, stem, root, whole plant, oil, blood, milk, urine and flesh were reported as used in raw or cooked form against 17 specific diseases. Prominent diseases treated by plant/animal remedies were asthma, cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, epilepsy, jaundice, malaria, skin disorder and rheumatism. This study provides a better database for future studies.     

Therapeutic use of plants by local communities in and around Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary: implications for protected area management in Bangladesh

Traditional systems of medicine have become a topic of global importance recently. Increased commercialization of economically important medicinal plants has resulted in overharvesting, threatening their survival. The present study was carried out to document the indigenous uses of medicinal plants by the local communities in and around Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Bangladesh. Data collection was predominantly qualitative recording the species use, identifying their relative importance (RI) and assessing the informants’ consensus factor (F_ic) on associated knowledge. We interviewed 140 households of the local community and 5 local herbal practitioners. A total of 44 plant species were in use to treat 33 ailments under 10 broad disease categories. Five species were found to have high use versatility (RI > 1), Emblica officinale L. being the most versatile. Respiratory problems scored the highest F_ic value (0.56) involving the use of 30% of the species recorded. Terminalia bellerica Roxb., Sterculia villosa Roxb., Dillenia pentagyna Roxb. and Terminalia arjuna Bedd. were being harvested commercially. Use by the community, particularly for subsistence consumption, seemed to be sustainable, but commercial extraction of some species appeared unsustainable. Buffer zone-based commercial farming of medicinal plants with a commercial value could serve a dual purpose of assuring sustainable alternative income generation for local communities as well as conserving the natural resources in protected areas.     

大连市道路绿地的植物构成研究

为提高大连市道路绿地植物配置的科学性,在其市区不同等级的750条道路上设置了702个样地作调研,对其道路绿地的植物种类组成,植物多样性,乔木、灌木植物的构成特点,常绿、落叶树种构成特点,乡土植物与外来植物构成特点以及植物观赏性构成特点等进行了研究。结果表明:大连市道路绿地植物种类共计43科72属120种,其中木本植物105种,占总数的87.5%;乡土植物28种,占27%。乔木与灌木树种的比例约为1:0.67;常绿与落叶植物的物种比例为1?3.5。其不同等级道路绿地植物多样性物种丰富度排序为,主干路快速路次干路支路,Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数和Pielou均匀度指数在不同等级道路的绿地植物多样性方面呈现出基本相同趋势,显示不同等级道路绿地植物构成存在差异。在植物观赏性构成上体现出多样化特征。     

福建白马山自然保护区野生药用植物资源探析

通过本底调查和补充调查,福建白马山自然保护区现有野生药用植物资源110科265属412种,按其药用部位将其分全草(株)类、根类、茎类、叶类、其他类等5类;分析当地野生药用植物区域特点,提出合理开发和利用建议,旨在为更科学更规范地进行野生药用植物资源开发利用提供基础资料。     

The comparative value of wild and domestic plants in home gardens of a South African rural village

Rural inhabitants make considerable use of wild resources from communal areas around their settlements, as well as from arable and residential plots. These wild resources compete with the main crops planted in arable plots and home gardens, but play a significant economic and nutritional role in rural livelihoods. This paper reports upon a conservative financial evaluation of the wild plant resources harvested from home gardens and arable plots by inhabitants of rural village in the Bushbuckridge lowveld (South Africa), and examines their importance relative to other domesticated crops. On average, each household made use of four to five species of wild plants growing on their residential plot, whereas the mean number of crop plants was 3.4. The total value of all plants was R1694 (US$ 269) per household per year, or approximately R4200 (US$ 667) per hectare of home garden per year. Wild plants represented 31% of the value of all plants grown on residential plots, relative to the 69% for domesticated crops (including fruit trees). Approximately 72% of the total value of all plant products was consumed by the household, and the remaining 28% was sold.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ethnobotanical study of forage/fodder plant species in and around the semi-arid Awash National Park,Ethiopia

We undertook ethnobotanical study of forage/fodder plant species used by the Afar and Oromo （Kereyu and lttu） Nations in and around the semi=arid Awash National Park （ANP）, Ethiopia. The study aimed at investigating and documenting indigenous knowledge （IK） on forage/fodder plant species and threats to their survival. Ninety-six in= formants between 20 and 80 years old were selected using prior informa- tion. Data were collected using semi-structured interview, guided field wail discussion and field observation. Preference ranking, Jaccard＇s coefficient of similarity and priority ranking were used for data analysis. One hundred twenty-six forage/fodder species of 90 genera and 43 fami- lies were collected in the study area. More than 88% of the species were reported with their vernacular names, where 68% were reported by the Afar Nation and 70% by the Oromo Nation. Family Poaceae was repre- sented by 25 species （20%）, followed by Fabaceae 18 （14%）. Preference ranking for the most preferred forage grasses as perceived by key informants revealed that Chrysopogon plumulosus was the most important forage/fodder species. Overgrazing was the major threat in the study area, scoring 22%.     

Indigenous fruit trees of Madagascar: potential components of agroforestry systems to improve human nutrition and restore biological diversity

Biodiversity in Eastern Madagascar is threatened by slash and burn agriculture, which is resulting in species extinction, land and soil degradation and rural impoverishment. An ethnobotanical study was undertaken to determine the domestication potential of indigenous fruit tree species as components of agroforestry systems. Four major selection criteria were used: nutritional and income needs of the population, diversification of the agroecosystem, and protection of plant and animal diversity. At three sites, Andasibe, Masoala and Ranomafana, in the humid primary forest region of Eastern Madagascar, a total of 150 wild fruit species from 82 genera and 42 families, of which 85% were indigenous and 92% of woody habit, were identified. In contrast to most of the deforested areas in Madagascar, the rural population in these areas possess an intimate knowledge of indigenous plant resources. Most of the indigenous fruits are collected from the forest but for a few species, domestication is initiated by managing naturally established species or by planting individual trees in agricultural fields. Wild fruits supplement the daily diet, substitute for exotic fruits, gain importance during periods of food shortage and are most appreciated by children. Commercialization of wild fruits is mainly undertaken by the poorer section of the population. Gender related differences in knowledge and preferences on species were identified and related to the respective household responsibilities. A list of the 26 priority species was established based on the preferences of children, women and men at the three sites. Local, fruit-eating lemur species are also highly dependent on indigenous fruit trees and are crucial for successful regeneration of forest vegetation. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

云龙天池国家级自然保护区野生观赏植物资源调查研究

对云龙天池国家级自然保护区168科477属1 118种维管植物进行观赏性调查分析。结果表明,保护区内共有野生观赏植物94科208属342种,其中木本植物191种,草本植物151种。野生观赏植物中优势科包括杜鹃花科、蔷薇科,龙胆科、兰科和毛茛科。观花、观叶、观果和观姿态这几类植物分别占观赏植物总数的59.36%、22.22%、10.53%和7.89%。在园林应用上包括盆景类、花灌木类、花坛花镜和花丛类,分别占观赏植物总数的20.47%、16.96%、14.62%和12.87%。珍稀野生观赏植物5科7属9种,分别占区内野生珍稀濒危植物的55.56%、63.64%和64.29%。文中对保护区在野生植物资源的保护与利用前景方面进行了探讨。     

岷江上游观赏植物资源初步调查与评价

野生观赏植物资源是园林产业发展的基础。通过对岷江上游野生观赏植物资源历时2a的调查研究表明,该区野生观赏植物资源极其丰富,仅在此次调查中就涉及到54科174属546种,分别占该区已知雏管束植物总科、属、种数的34．8％、29．1％和27．8％,其观赏特性与园林用途多种多样,区系分布表现出极高的种群多样性。资源分布总体趋势为低海拔地区多于高海拔地区,但不同观赏特性的植物资源分布有一定的差异;某些观赏植物种群分布范围狭窄或处于濒危状态;一些植物拥有多种开发利用价值。建议在不同海拔地区针对植物资源建立一定数量的自然保护区,并深入开展资源调查研究工作,探索资源开发与经营的合理模式,保护该地区的生态系统及生物多样性,为发展园林产业和其他生物产业提供可持续的供给源泉。     

Status and ethno-medicinal usage of invasive plants in traditional health care practices: a case study from northeastern Bangladesh

Species diversity and ethno-medicinal usage of 39 species of invasive plants were explored in and around two protected areas, Khadimnagar National Park (KNP) and Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctu- ary (RKWS), of northeastern Bangladesh,. Status of invasive plants were investigated in 60 sample plots with 5 different habitat types, including forest, roadside, homestead, fallow land and others (ponds, canals, water logged areas, agricultural land, etc.). Data about the usage of invasive plants in traditional health care were collected through interviewing 110 households. Among the five habitat types, fallow land (28 species) pos- sessed the highest number of species, followed by roadside (25 species), forest (23 species), homestead (22 species) and others (13 species). Based on the survey, invasive plants of study areas were also categorized into five degrees of invasiveness e.g., naturalized, introduced, possibly invasive, moderately invasive and highly invasive. Additionally, there is the linear trend between degrees of invasiveness and use percentage of invasive plants. Total 39 species of invasive plants belonging to 29 fami- lies were recorded, which are generally used to treat 37 diseases, ranging from simple headache to highly complicated eye and heart diseases. The majority of the species used by the local inhabitants were herbs (16 spe- cies), followed by some shrubs (11 species), climbers (5 species), trees (5 species) and grasses (2 species). The use percentage of aboveground plant parts were higher (70.58%) than that of underground plant parts (16.18%).     

Plant use and management in homegardens and swiddens: evidence from the Bolivian Amazon

Amazonian plant management is perhaps nowhere as intense as in homegardens and swiddens. A quantitative ethnobotanical study was conducted in Indigenous Territory and National Park Isiboro-Sécure, Bolivia, to investigate plant use and management in homegardens and swiddens by local Yuracaré and Trinitario ethnic groups. Ethnobotanical data of plants were obtained from 11 Yuracaré and 11 Trinitario participants through semistructured interviews. A total of 151 different cultivated or tolerated species was recorded, accounting for 21% of all inventoried plants considered useful to local Yuracarés and Trinitarios. The local use value of managed plants is almost twice that of wild plants. Managed plants score particularly higher than wild plants for medicinal, food and material applications. Most managed plants are herbs, followed by trees and shrubs. Nevertheless, managed trees have significantly higher overall use values than all other life forms. Managed trees tend to be particularly more appreciated as sources of food and materials, whereas herbaceous plants generally have a higher therapeutic value. Our results support observations made in literature that moderately humanized landscapes, and homegardens and swiddens in particular, are an important source of food and healing for forest people. Although people generally start managing plants in homegardens and swiddens because of their perceived usefulness, they are also favourable locations to experiment with the usefulness of (managed or wild) plants prevailing there. This particularly accounts for medicinal plants and it is argued that the use of managed plants in traditional medicine relates to (1) the high intensity of contact with theses species, and (2) their chemical defence strategy. To conclude, a number of policy recommendations are presented.     

南京市植物物种多样性现状及保护对策

通过对南京市域植被资料的搜集与实地调查,分析了南京市植物物种多样性。结果表明:南京地区高等植物共有2073种(含种以下等级),隶属221科、899属;其中乡土植物158科、609属、1 333种;资源植物中观赏植物1068种,药用植物760种,油料植物90种,纤维植物89种;国家Ⅲ级以上保护的濒危物种64种。整体上南京植物资源较为丰富,有许多具有很好的开发利用前景,植物物种多样性的保护需进一步融入生态环境建设,挖掘乡土植物资源,合理利用资源植物,研究利用重要濒危植物。     

湖南野生经济植物资源分类及开发利用评价

湖南省自然条件优越，地质、地貌复杂多样，生物资源本底好，生物多样性丰富．据统计，可供利用的野生经济植物资源达2000种以上，为该省一大资源优势．本文根据野生植物资源之用途，将其分为4大类17小类，并较为详尽地论述了各类植物代表种、资源概况及开发利用前景．同时，提出了开发利用这类资源的建议，可供合理开发利用和保护这类资源时参考．     

Integration of indigenous wild woody perennial edible fruit bearing species in the agricultural landscapes of Amhara region,Ethiopia

The study was undertaken in three districts of Amhara region to assess the extent and purpose of integration of wild indigenous woody perennial fruit bearing species in the agricultural landscapes, appraise their species composition and diversity and identify factors holding back farm integration. Data were gathered through interviews administered to 90 randomly chosen household heads, and fruit trees census in each and every plot of the informants. Species diversity was found to be low and vary by farm, land use type and site. Altogether 17 species were recorded in the agricultural settings. Species retention in the different land use types appears to be governed by species relative importance and compatibility with annual crops, where farm edges recorded a higher ethno-ecological importance score. Nevertheless, as it stands now fruit bearing species are retained primarily for non-fruit utilities. Free availability, land shortage, slope and altitude as well as disgrace feelings are among the major factors holding back farm integration and diversity of indigenous species for fruit production. Should they are additionally exploited for their fruits proper, there is a critical need to raise recognition and awareness at the rural grassroots level and instill knowledge about the food values, and assist in appropriate tree management techniques and inter-cropping regimes as well as accessing markets.     

龙溪—虹口国家级自然保护区野生资源植物调查研究

龙溪—虹口国家级自然保护区具有非常丰富的野生资源植物。作者通过野外实地调查及查阅相关文献资料,将保护区内的资源植物根据资源植物的用途及化学成份,分为5大类,11小类。统计表明,保护区共有药用植物221种,园林植物407种,食用植物约102种,包括果用类型62种、蔬菜植物资源约40种,芳香植物61种,其他植物684种,包括纤维植物90种、油脂植物107种、淀粉植物42种、单宁植物32种、用材植物111种、饲料植物302种。保护区资源植物具有种类丰富、蓄积量小、品类齐全、开发潜力大的特点。在开发利用的同时,应本着可持续利用的原则,解决合理开发利用与生物多样性保护之间的矛盾。     

Ethnomedicinal knowledge and healthcare practices among the Tharus of Nawalparasi district in central Nepal

Documentation of ethnomedicinal use of plants has been considered a high priority to support the discovery of new drugs to benefit mankind. This paper deals with the field observations recorded on the use of medicinal plants in traditional health care systems of the Tharus of three Villages of Nawalparasi district of central Nepal. The Tharus are isolated forest dwellers who have lived harmoniously with nature over the centuries and accumulated a vast knowledge of plant use to cure various ailments. First-hand information on the ethnomedicinal uses of 110 plants species belonging to 52 families were documented from the study. These plant species are used by the Tharus to treat ailments ranging from fever and headache to cough and cold, rheumatic pain and fracture to urinary tract infection and menstrual disorders. The scientific names of these plants are presented in tabular format according to alphabetic order, family, parts used, medicine preparation process and use and method of application. Increasing accessibility of modern health care facilities, low recognition of traditional healers and decreasing interest amongst the young generation has resulted in declining trends in the use of traditional medicine among the Tharus. Thus, the documentation of such knowledge is an important step for preservation of traditional knowledge, conservation and management of valuable plant resources and commercialization of ethnomedicines.     

贵州野生木本观赏植物研究

对贵州省的木本观赏植物进行了种类、观赏性状、特性分类、分布状况等的研究。其结果表明,贵州有木本观赏植物110科285属588种,分别占贵州省木本植物科属种的84.6%、48.8%和23.3%。按性状分为10类;按观赏特性分为6类。从分布看,全省80个县(市)都有木本观赏植物分布,大多数种出现的海拔高度为600~1 500m。首次系统地提出了贵州野生木本观赏植物的种类。     

深圳市植物物种指数与本地植物指数分析

以文献调研为主,结合野外踏查,对深圳市野生植物和常见栽培植物、建成区内本地植物和外来植物进行了统计分析,得出深圳市"植物物种指数"为0.789,"本地植物指数"为0.701;还分析了深圳植物的区系特点和外来植物的应用现状。