An ethonobotanical study was conducted to document the traditional use of plants and to find out the potential economic value of plants used by the indigenous ‘Bankariya’ people of Central Nepal. Personal interviews and group discussions were conducted to gather information on the indigenous knowledge of this
ethnic group. A checklist of ‘categories of plant use’ was developed and used to identify, categorize and document plant species in the Twanrakhola community. Altogether, 109 plant species belonging to 49 families and 84 genera used for a wide range of purposes in the community are recorded. The people are highly
dependent on forest and forest products. Because of their long experience with forests, the ‘Bankariya’ people have acquired rich knowledge about the utilization of plant resources in various ways. The Twanrakhola community harbours a high diversity of medicinal plants and wild edible plants. Despite the gradual
economic and socio-cultural transformation in the life style of the community members because of globalisation, the Bankariya people still possess substantial knowledge of plants and their uses. Sustainable harvesting of and trade in medicinal and wild edible plants could be a significant source of subsistence and income generation for the local population.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Research Problem, Objectives and Guiding Hypothesis
3. Materials and Methods
4. Results
4.1 Ethnobotanical Documentation
4.2 Diversity of Plant Species
4.3 Category of Ethnobotanical Plant Species
4.4 Plants and Habit Categories
4.5 Plants of Medicinal Plants Used
5. Discussion of Results
5.1 Medical Uses of Plants
5.2 Plants as a Source of Food
5.3 Plants and Livestock Farming
5.4 Miscellaneous Plant Species
5.5 Decline in Traditional Ethnobotanical Knowledge
6. Conclusion
Research Objective and Scope
This study aims to document the traditional ethnobotanical knowledge of the indigenous Bankariya ethnic group in the Makawanpur district of Central Nepal, specifically focusing on the identification and potential economic value of plants used for medicine, food, and other household purposes.
- Documentation of indigenous plant knowledge among the Bankariya people.
- Categorization of plant species by medicinal, nutritional, and utilitarian use.
- Analysis of sustainable plant resource management and its impact on local livelihoods.
- Investigation into the decline of traditional ethnobotanical knowledge due to socio-cultural changes.
- Exploration of the potential for sustainable trade in wild medicinal and edible plant species.
Excerpt from the Book
5. Discussion of Results
Plants have always been an inevitable part of the life and culture of the Nepalese people. It is therefore natural that all aspects of the Nepalese folk-life and beliefs bear a narration about plants and their parts (Shrestha et al., 2004). There is a regular practice of collection of several species of plants for fulfilling the daily requirements by the ‘Bankariya’ ethnic group. Their knowledge of the uses of medicinal plants and wild edible plants is very sound. This is basically because they spend most of their time in the forest. Almost the whole population depends upon forest resources for their livelihood.
Among the 109 plant species documented, 105 species are identified with their scientific names. These species fall under 49 taxonomic families and 84 genera. Among them, 45 (91.83%) families are from Angiosperms, two (4.08%) are from Pteridophytes and two (4.08%) are Fungi. Leguminosae is the largest family with 12 species followed by Compositae and Gramineae with eight species each, Labiatae seven species, Moraceae six species and Euphorbiaceae six species. Other families include not more than one or two species.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the significance of ethnobotanical research in developing countries and the unique context of Nepal's biodiversity and ethnic diversity.
2. Research Problem, Objectives and Guiding Hypothesis: Identifies the urgent need to preserve indigenous knowledge before it is lost to socio-cultural transformations and proposes that the Bankariya people possess significant traditional knowledge.
3. Materials and Methods: Describes the field study conducted in the Twanrakhola community, including data collection via interviews and group discussions with 45 local informants.
4. Results: Details the documentation of 109 plant species, classifying them by diversity, habit, and specific medicinal parts used.
5. Discussion of Results: Analyzes the cultural reliance on plants for medicine, food, and livestock, while highlighting the threat of eroding traditional knowledge systems.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the study's findings, emphasizing the importance of sustainable management and the need for future pharmacological and phytochemical research.
Keywords
Bankariya, indigenous knowledge, ethnobotany, medicinal plants, biodiversity, Makawanpur, Nepal, wild edible plants, traditional medicine, sustainable livelihoods, plant taxonomy, conservation, ethnoecology, resource management, subsistence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this ethnobotanical study?
The study focuses on documenting the traditional uses of plants by the indigenous Bankariya people in Central Nepal to preserve their indigenous knowledge and identify potential economic resources.
What are the central themes covered in the paper?
The core themes include the identification of medicinal and edible plants, the cultural significance of forest resources, and the challenges posed by the erosion of traditional knowledge due to modernization.
What is the main research hypothesis?
The guiding hypothesis is that the Bankariya ethnic group possesses significant and valuable traditional knowledge regarding the utilization of local plant resources.
Which scientific methodology was utilized?
The researchers used a field-based ethnobotanical approach, combining personal interviews and group discussions with local informants, alongside botanical identification via herbarium specimens.
What does the main body of the paper address?
The main body systematically presents the documentation of 109 plant species, their categorization by use (medicinal, food, fodder), and a discussion on how these findings relate to the community's survival and future economic development.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Bankariya, indigenous knowledge, medicinal plants, biodiversity, ethnobotany, and sustainable livelihoods.
How many plant species were documented in total?
A total of 109 plant species, belonging to 49 families and 84 genera, were recorded and identified during the field study.
Why are the wild edible plants considered critical for this group?
Unlike other groups, the Bankariya people have traditionally relied heavily on the forest for their survival as they have not historically engaged in significant animal husbandry or commercial crop production.
What does the study conclude regarding future management?
The conclusion suggests that management plans for medicinal and edible plants could enhance both food security and income, provided there is equitable benefit sharing and active cooperation among stakeholders.
- Citar trabajo
- Y. Uprety (Autor), Prof. Dr. Emmanuel Boon (Autor), R.C. Poudel (Autor), 2008, Traditional use of plant resources by bankariya ethnic group in Makawanpur district, central Nepal, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/91869
