Indigenous communities’ perceptions reveal threats and management options of wild edible plants in semiarid lands of northwestern Kenya

Oluoch, Wyclife Agumba; Whitney, Cory; Termote, Céline; Borgemeister, Christian; Schmitt, Christine B.

doi:10.1186/s13002-023-00584-6

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 65 publications

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“…Biodiversity loss due to anthropogenic activity, ecological factors and natural causes are a matter of ongoing discussion worldwide. Threats for wild edible resources are not bereft out of it (Oluoch et al, 2023). In the present study, during group discussion some threats for the local WES have been identified.…”

Section: Threats Sustainable Harvesting and Conservation Practicementioning

confidence: 77%

The importance of wild edible plant and macrofungi diversity to attain food security for the tribes of eastern India—a quantitative study

Mandal,

Saha,

Saha

2023

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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BackgroundInventorization and promotion of traditionally used local flora can be a better option to gain a wide range of alternative edible resources and multiple nutritional benefits. A perusal of literature highlighted the poor nutritional status of the tribal community living in eastern India and pointed out the potential lack of information regarding locally available wild edible resources.ObjectivePresent study aimed to document detailed information on wild edibles of eastern India, evaluate their cultural significance, and understand their role in achieving food security for the local tribes.Materials and methodologyTraditional knowledge of wild edibles was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Standard protocols were followed for collecting data. The collected data were analyzed using specific statistical tools like Relative frequency of citation (RFC), and Cultural food significance index (CFSI) to identify the most cited and culturally significant species. Jaccard similarity index (JI) was used to check the similarity of food plant use in different localities and adjoining areas of the laterite region in eastern India.ResultsA total of 2,603 citations were made by the 153 participants for 83 types of wild edibles spread across 48 families. Among the 83 species, 65 species were angiosperms, three species were pteridophytes and the rest 15 were from fungal groups. The RFC value ranged from 0.04 to 0.76, and Madhuca longifolia (L.) J.F.Macbr. was identified as the most frequently cited species (FC = 116; RFC = 0.76). The Cultural food significance index (CFSI) value varied from 0.2 to 844, and thirteen wild edibles like Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, Enydra fluctuans Lour., Marsilea vestita Hook. & Grev., Termitomyces heimii Natarajan, etc. were identified as culturally most important in the locality.ConclusionPresent study concludes that the local flora and macrofungi diversity is a treasure trove for fulfilling human hunger and gaining enough nutritional benefit. Scientific and sustainable utilization of these wild edibles can be a wise step to attain multiple health benefits and food security for the tribal community of eastern India. Moreover, culturally accepted species can be opted as a good source for bioprospecting nutraceuticals.

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Section: Threats Sustainable Harvesting and Conservation Practicementioning

confidence: 77%

The importance of wild edible plant and macrofungi diversity to attain food security for the tribes of eastern India—a quantitative study

Mandal,

Saha,

Saha

2023

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Predicted changes in distribution and richness of wild edible plants under climate change scenarios in northwestern Kenya

Oluoch,

Borgemeister,

de Deus Vidal Junior

et al. 2024

Reg Environ Change

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Wild edible plants (WEPs) can provide diverse and nutrient-rich food sources that contribute to the health and well-being of communities worldwide. In northwestern Kenya, WEPs are vital dietary components for nomadic pastoral communities with limited access to diverse cultivated food crops. However, the increasing impact of climate change poses a threat to these valuable food resources, and their sustainable utilization remains precarious. Here, we assessed the potentially suitable habitats and richness of 23 selected WEPs in the region using a species distribution modeling (SDM) approach. We used species occurrence points from global databases, a national herbarium, and field surveys and made predictions spanning two future time intervals, 2041–2070 and 2071–2100, across three shared socioeconomic pathways (126, 370, and 585) using bioclimatic variables from five global circulation models. We also included soil and topographic variables in our models. We calibrated maximum entropy models using individually tuned parameters. Our future predictions showed a predominant decline in habitat suitability for half the studied WEPs. The richness of the selected WEPs are predicted to remain rather stable under projected future climates concentrating in southern parts of Turkana County. Conservation and management measures need to consider the changing availability of these valuable resources in order to underpin the dietary diversification of local communities.

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A systematic review exploring the diversity and food security potential of wild edible plants in Ethiopia

Tadesse,

Masresha,

Lulekal

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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Wild edible plants (WEPs) are important food sources globally due to their accessibility and affordability. In Ethiopia, where diverse cultural groups consume WEPs, this systematic review explores their diversity, edible parts, and role in supporting food security. The review examined 38 original studies on the ethnobotany of WEPs in Ethiopia from 2000 to 2022. It identified a total of 651 WEP species from 343 genera and 94 families, with the Fabaceae family having the most species (51). Herbs and shrubs were the predominant growth habits, and fruits were the most consumed plant parts. The review prioritized nine WEP species for cultivation and promotion. However, threats such as overgrazing, agricultural expansion, and the use of woody species for construction, firewood, and charcoal have depleted WEP resources and eroded traditional knowledge about their use. The review suggests that WEPs have the potential to contribute to food and nutritional security in Ethiopia if these threats are effectively managed. However, the limited coverage of ethnobotanical studies on WEPs requires further investigation. The study recommends integrating the prioritized WEPs into the national food system for promotion, cultivation, and nutrient analysis to evaluate their nutritional bioavailability.

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Indigenous communities’ perceptions reveal threats and management options of wild edible plants in semiarid lands of northwestern Kenya

Cited by 5 publications

References 65 publications

The importance of wild edible plant and macrofungi diversity to attain food security for the tribes of eastern India—a quantitative study

The importance of wild edible plant and macrofungi diversity to attain food security for the tribes of eastern India—a quantitative study

Predicted changes in distribution and richness of wild edible plants under climate change scenarios in northwestern Kenya

A systematic review exploring the diversity and food security potential of wild edible plants in Ethiopia

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