Ethnobotanical knowledge against the combined biodiversity, poverty and climate crisis: A case study from a Karen community in Northern Thailand

Abstract

Societal Impact Statement Global biodiversity is eroding at alarming rates due to anthropogenic factors, such as climate change and unsustainable land use management. These interrelated challenges often push forest ecosystems to their limits, leading many species to disappear before their characteristics and potential are explored. As a result, indigenous rural communities inhabiting the world's biodiversity hotspots are losing a vital resource that supports their subsistence and livelihoods against persistent poverty. This research documents traditional ecological knowledge of a Karen community inside the Doi Inthanon National Park, Northern Thailand, reporting ethnobotanical uses of 125 plant taxa. It provides a ranking of culturally important trees that can inform the selection of framework species for ecosystem restoration and sustainable development in the region's montane forests. Summary Climate change, population growth and persistent poverty are applying pressure to the world's most fragile ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots in unprecedented ways. There is an urgent need to document species that provide important ecological services and contribute to overall human quality of life. Participatory rural appraisal tools and collection of herbarium specimens were used to elicit ethnobotanical knowledge of an ethnic community inside the mountain forest of Northern Thailand. Statistical analysis was performed on the basis of quantitative indices to rank the cultural significance of the reported species in a Karen community inside Doi Inthanon National Park, Northern Thailand. This article presents an ethnobotanical inventory of 125 plants, including data on important botanical families, use categories and useful plant parts. A prioritisation of 30 culturally important tree species is attempted on the basis of four quantitative indices. Most of the reported plants are neglected and underutilised in need of further research and development for the diversification of agriculture, diets, livelihoods and landscapes. The integration of cultural criteria in the selection of framework species for ecosystem restoration embeds local community needs in conservation efforts, increasing their potential for success and fostering an integrated approach to sustainable development.

Evaluación etnobotánica preliminar de la flora local en dos comunidades nativas de Tambopata, Amazonía sur peruana

“…De esta manera se garantizaría la transferencia de los conocimientos a la siguiente generación. Esto es importante porque las comunidades locales y los pueblos indígenas son depositarios de ricos conocimientos etnobotánicos sobre especies olvidadas e infrautilizadas que pueden contribuir a los sistemas de uso sostenible de los recursos naturales, a la diversificación de los medios de vida y a la resiliencia climática (Georgiadis, 2022). Asimismo, la información transmitida a las siguientes generaciones puede desempeñar un importante rol en la conservación de las plantas, especialmente medicinales, y puede ser una herramienta útil para promover la conservación de los recursos naturales (Yinebeb et al, 2022).…”

“…A pesar del escepticismo, las comunidades indígenas mantienen una fuerte relación con la naturaleza, que se manifiesta en la dependencia de los bosques locales para obtener alimentos, medicinas, materiales de construcción y otros recursos primarios para satisfacer las principales necesidades cotidianas (Georgiadis, 2022). Más aún, cuando la mayoría de las investigaciones sobre el uso de plantas en la medicina tradicional se han realizado en comunidades indígenas alrededor del mundo (Zambrano-Intriago et al, 2015).…”

“…Más aún, cuando la mayoría de las investigaciones sobre el uso de plantas en la medicina tradicional se han realizado en comunidades indígenas alrededor del mundo (Zambrano-Intriago et al, 2015). Debido a esto, las comunidades nativas poseen un rico conocimiento tradicional sobre los usos de las plantas locales (Georgiadis, 2022).…”

Water-use characteristics of Syzygium antisepticum and Adinandra integerrima in a secondary forest of Khao Yai National Park in Thailand with implications for environmental management

“…Syzygium antisepticum can be found as the dominant species in other tropical forests such as tropical evergreen swamp forests in Cambodia ( Theilade et al, 2011 ), dry evergreen forests in northeastern Thailand ( Bunyavejchewin, 1999 ) and tropical coastal sand dune in southern Thailand ( Marod et al, 2020 ). Adinandra integerrima can be found in other parts of Thailand, such as Doi Inthanon National Park in the northern region ( Georgiadis, 2022 ) and other countries in the tropics, such as Cambodia, China, Laos, and Vietnam ( Tagane et al, 2020 ). Despite the widespread presence of these species in Thailand and neighboring countries of Southeast Asia, the information on the water-use characteristics of both species is still lacking.…”

Water-use characteristics of Syzygium antisepticum and Adinandra integerrima in a secondary tropical forestin Khao Yai National Park for environmental management

“…A. integerrima can be found as the dominant species in other secondary forests in Thailand such as Doi Inthanon National Park (Georgiadis, 2022). However, the information of water-use characteristics of both species is still lacking.…”