Cross-cultural comparison of plant use knowledge in Baitadi and Darchula districts, Nepal Himalaya

Ripu M Kunwar,Bhagawat Rimal,Prabhat Sapkota,Khum B Thapa-Magar,Rainer W Bussmann,Maria Fadiman,Mary Cameron

doi:10.1186/s13002-018-0242-7

Abstract

BackgroundThis study seeks to better understand the human-nature interface and to measure the variability of plant use knowledge among cultures, through inter- and intracultural analyses. We compared plant collection, use, and management of two culturally distinct groups (Baitadi and Darchula) of the Nepal Himalaya. They inhabit different physiographic regions, yet share the same ecological landscape, environmental resources, and livelihood challenges. We hypothesized that the elderly, native, and traditional healers living in remote and rural places possess more diverse and detailed knowledge of plant use and conservation than young, non-native, and non-healers.MethodsA total of 106 people were contacted for interviews, and 100 (68 men and 32 women) agreed to share ethnobotanical, demographic, and socioeconomic information. They were asked about the three most important plants for their socioeconomic benefit, culture, primary health care, and livelihood.ResultsThe knowledge of plant collection, use, and its transfer was strongly associated with the cultural heritage whereas the ecogeographical condition influences the ways in which plants are collected and used. The divergent knowledge of plant collection, use, and transfer between the participants of Baitadi and Darchula was significantly (p < 0.001) attributed to the cultural heritage of the area. The low consensus of plant use (FiC 0–0.87; IASc 0–0.67) between Baitadi and Darchula district could be due to cultural divergence, varied accessibility, physiographic heterogeneity, and biodiversity uniqueness.ConclusionsDifferences in plant use knowledge may help in diversifying the strategies of plant use in accordance with the livelihood, culture, and environment, and therefore, more studies measuring these aspects can further the ecosystem and cultural health of the region.

Highlights

This study seeks to better understand the human-nature interface and to measure the variability of plant use knowledge among cultures, through inter- and intracultural analyses
Useful species and cultural consensus A total of 1434 use reports from 122 useful plant species were recorded from 100 participants
Our results indicated that plant use knowledge was less varied among the participants because in situ transmission is underway when needed as described by Phillips and Gentry [3] and Paniagua-Zambrana et al [7]

Summary

Introduction

This study seeks to better understand the human-nature interface and to measure the variability of plant use knowledge among cultures, through inter- and intracultural analyses. Use, and management of two culturally distinct groups (Baitadi and Darchula) of the Nepal Himalaya. They inhabit different physiographic regions, yet share the same ecological landscape, environmental resources, and livelihood challenges. Human communities that inhabit remote and rugged ecosystems use diverse livelihood strategies such as utilizing different ethnoecological environments [1, 2] defined by the availability of plants [3], altitudinal gradient and accessibility [4], culture [5, 6], and adaptation [7]. A continuous outmigration foments a decline in the number of healers and indigenous knowledge holders [37,38,39,40,41], resulting in weakened indigenous knowledge and use systems [42]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion