Diversity of Medicinal and Food Plants as Non-timber Forest Products in Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve (China): Implications for Livelihood Improvement and Biodiversity Conservation

Ghorbani, Abdolbaset; Langenberger, Gerhard; Liu, Jingxin; Wehner, Stefanie; Sauerborn, Joachim

doi:10.1007/s12231-012-9188-1

Cited by 33 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…8 species. Plants belonging to 62 families and 116 genera are distributed into different life forms, with herbs (43.5%) and shrubs (26.8%) having the most species, similar to a survey conducted in Yunnan Province [17] and another in Hunan Province [21]. The majority of food plants belong to the Rosaceae (34 species), Liliaceae (9), Brassicaceae (9), Araliaceae (6) and Berberidaceae (6).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 54%

“…Thus, it is becoming urgent to document and revitalize traditional knowledge of WEPs to preserve genetic and cultural diversity [12,15,16]. China is renowned for its wide use of wild harvested resources in the human diet, and many studies have focused on wild edible plants [17-28]. These ethnobotanical surveys not only play an important role in conserving traditional knowledge associated with WEPs, but also contribute to nutritional analysis of the most widely used species [1,13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although there are several ethnobotanical studies concerning wild food plants used by ethnic minorities, such as Mongolians [18,19], Miao in Hunan Province [21] and various ethnic groups in Yunnan Province [5,17,26-28], to our knowledge, information on WEPs of the Shangri-la region used by Tibetans has not previously been documented. In order to fill this gap, ethnobotanical surveys were conducted throughout the prefecture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Eating from the wild: diversity of wild edible plants used by Tibetans in Shangri-la region, Yunnan, China

Zhuo

Liu

et al. 2013

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

141

138

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BackgroundLocally harvested wild edible plants (WEPs) provide food as well as cash income for indigenous people and are of great importance in ensuring global food security. Some also play a significant role in maintaining the productivity and stability of traditional agro-ecosystems. Shangri-la region of Yunnan Province, SW China, is regarded as a biodiversity hotspot. People living there have accumulated traditional knowledge about plants. However, with economic development, WEPs are threatened and the associated traditional knowledge is in danger of being lost. Therefore, ethnobotanical surveys were conducted throughout this area to investigate and document the wild edible plants traditionally used by local Tibetan people.MethodsTwenty-nine villages were selected to carry out the field investigations. Information was collected using direct observation, semi-structured interviews, individual discussions, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaires and participatory rural appraisal (PRA).ResultsInformation about 168 wild edible plant species in 116 genera of 62 families was recorded and specimens were collected. Most species were edible greens (80 species) or fruits (78). These WEPs are sources for local people, especially those living in remote rural areas, to obtain mineral elements and vitamins. More than half of the species (70%) have multiple use(s) besides food value. Some are crop wild relatives that could be used for crop improvement. Several also have potential values for further commercial exploitation. However, the utilization of WEPs and related knowledge are eroding rapidly, especially in the areas with convenient transportation and booming tourism.ConclusionWild food plants species are abundant and diverse in Shangri-la region. They provide food and nutrients to local people and could also be a source of cash income. However, both WEPs and their associated indigenous knowledge are facing various threats. Thus, conservation and sustainable utilization of these plants in this area are of the utmost importance. Documentation of these species may provide basic information for conservation, possibly further exploitation, and will preserve local traditional knowledge.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 54%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Eating from the wild: diversity of wild edible plants used by Tibetans in Shangri-la region, Yunnan, China

Zhuo

Liu

et al. 2013

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

141

138

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The main factors affecting that difference might be the availability of income from other sectors and the favorability of the market for bamboo shoot. Ghorbani et al (2012) also found a significant difference for collection of bamboo shoots between villages in China. But changing to rubber plantation was pointed out as the main reason for that difference.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

A study of the role of forest and forest-dependent community in Myanmar

Khaine

Woo

Kang

2014

Forest Science and Technology

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This study was intended to find out the benefits of forests, especially for non-wood forest products (NWFPs), to forestdependent local people and the relation to their socio-economic status. Sampling (169 respondents) was chosen to be an equal distribution of household's economic status. The survey was conducted face to face with structural interviews using both open-and closed-ended questions. The results showed that bamboo and bamboo shoot were considered as the most collected NWFPs in the Bago Yoma region. The average consumptions of NWFPs were 302.50 AE 90.12 viss to 501.27 AE 120.65 viss. Furthermore, the research revealed that the collection of NWFPs showed negative correlation with income availability and livestock possession. The study aims to help provide the necessary information for sustainable forest management.

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“…Comparative reviews of the use of wild food resources in different regions of China are also needed. Another interesting issue, little explored, is that of gender and age differences in the use of wild food resources (but see [11,12]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wild food plants and wild edible fungi in two valleys of the Qinling Mountains (Shaanxi, central China)

Yongxiang

Łuczaj²,

Kang

et al. 2013

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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BackgroundThe aim of the study was to investigate knowledge and use of wild food plants in two mountain valleys separated by Mount Taibai – the highest peak of northern China and one of its biodiversity hotspots, each adjacent to species-rich temperate forest vegetation.MethodsSeventy two free lists were collected among the inhabitants of two mountain valleys (36 in each). All the studied households are within walking distance of primary forest vegetation, however the valleys differed in access to urban centers: Houzhenzi is very isolated, and the Dali valley has easier access to the cities of central Shaanxi.ResultsAltogether, 185 wild food plant species and 17 fungi folk taxa were mentioned. The mean number of freelisted wild foods was very high in Houzhenzi (mean 25) and slightly lower in Dali (mean 18). An average respondent listed many species of wild vegetables, a few wild fruits and very few fungi. Age and male gender had a positive but very low effect on the number of taxa listed.Twelve taxa of wild vegetables (Allium spp., Amaranthus spp., Caryopteris divaricata, Helwingia japonica, Matteucia struthiopteris, Pteridium aquilinum, Toona sinensis, Cardamine macrophylla, Celastrus orbiculatus, Chenopodium album, Pimpinella sp., Staphylea bumalda &S. holocarpa), two species of edible fruits (Akebia trifoliata, Schisandra sphenanthera) and none of the mushrooms were freelisted by at least half of the respondents in one or two of the valleys.ConclusionThe high number of wild vegetables listed is due to the high cultural position of this type of food in China compared to other parts of the world, as well as the high biodiversity of the village surroundings. A very high proportion of woodland species (42%, double the number of the ruderal species used) among the listed taxa is contrary to the general stereotype that wild vegetables in Asia are mainly ruderal species.The very low interest in wild mushroom collecting is noteworthy and is difficult to explain. It may arise from the easy access to the cultivated Auricularia and Lentinula mushrooms and very steep terrain, making foraging for fungi difficult.

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Diversity of Medicinal and Food Plants as Non-timber Forest Products in Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve (China): Implications for Livelihood Improvement and Biodiversity Conservation

Cited by 33 publications

References 15 publications

Eating from the wild: diversity of wild edible plants used by Tibetans in Shangri-la region, Yunnan, China

Eating from the wild: diversity of wild edible plants used by Tibetans in Shangri-la region, Yunnan, China

A study of the role of forest and forest-dependent community in Myanmar

Wild food plants and wild edible fungi in two valleys of the Qinling Mountains (Shaanxi, central China)

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