Abstract. Wiryono, Sriwahyuni, Winanda GA, Saprinurdin, Nurliana S. 2019. The diversity of useful plants and botanical knowledge of the Rejang Tribe in Kepahiang District, Bengkulu Province, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 3599-3607. The rural people derive multiple benefits from the highly diverse plants in their traditional gardens and the nearby natural forests. However, the conversion of natural forests and traditional gardens into monoculture plantations in many areas has reduced the plant diversity, which in turn has also reduced the botanical knowledge, especially among the younger generation. This study was conducted to know: (i) the diversity of plant species used by the people of Rejang tribe in Kota Agung Village, Kepahiang District, Bengkulu Province, Indonesia, (ii) the correlation between age and botanical knowledge, and (iii) the effect of gender on the botanical knowledge. Data were collected through interviews with five key informants and 68 villagers, and the data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using t-test and regression analyses. The results showed that the Rejang people in Kota Agung Village used 130 plant species for 12 different purposes. The three top use categories were food, medicine, and ornament. The botanical knowledge was positively correlated with age, and women had better botanical knowledge than men, presumably due to the longer time they spend in taking care of the homegardens. This study confirms the worldwide trend that there is a decline in botanical knowledge among young people.

The purpose of the community service activity is to obtain alternative fuel, reduce waste rice husk, rice husk value-added so that it becomes more useful and reduce the illegal logging. This community service activity is done from August-September 2014 in the village of Srikaton, District of Pondok Kelapa, Central Bengkulu. The target of this activity is PKK members, members of the youth institution and farmer group members. The methods used in this activities are counseling, training and demonstration. Rice husk briquette as an alternative kerosene in the village Srikaton is one right step in the processing of agricultural waste. Rice husk briquette is also one way that can be used by housewives, especially to save money in the purchase of fuel for cooking needs.

Kayu Bawang (Dysoxylum mollissimum Blume) has long been used for carpentry and furniture. However, the cultivation of this plant has not been done well. The purpose of this research was to determine the effectiveness of Kayu bawang growth to sapling stage in open and shaded conditions. Planting Kayu bawang as object of the research has been executed since March 24, 2016 on open and shaded condition. The observed variables included diameter, height and leaf chlorophyll of the plant. The measurements were made up to 2-year-old plants.  The effectiveness of Kayu bawang growth in open and shaded conditions was tested using the t-test. The results showed that the diameter of Kayu bawang in open condition was 8.91±1.87 cm and in shaded conditions was 5.42±1.67 cm. The height of Kayu bawang in open conditions was 433±70 cm and in shaded condition was 283±100 cm. The chlorophyll of Kayu bawang in open condition was 57.6±5.3 and in shaded condition was 53.8±4.0. Statistical analysis for the three variables showed that the growth of Kayu bawang at the sapling stage in open conditions was more effective than in shaded conditions.