English

Abstract

Traditional medicine has continued to be the most affordable and easily accessible source of treatment in the primary healthcare system of Ethiopia. However, the medicinal plants used for such treatments are becoming increasingly rare and vulnerable to extinction because of improper utilization and conservation practices. Hence, this reseach was initiated with the aim to assess the use, management and conservation practices of medicinal plants in some selected districts of Jimma Zone, south west Ethiopia. Ethnobotanical methods such as focus group discussions, key informant interview, semistructured interview and field walks were used to collect ethnobotanical data on use and management practices of medicinal plants in the study area. Data collected were classified into the use of the plants and management practice. Data of the semistructured interview was analyzed using SPSS version 16 software. The result revealed that a total of 67 plant species were identified in the study area, of which 30 are nutraceuticals, 30 are collected at wild habitat and 37 are cultivated. Source of medicinal plants include: cultivation in home gardens, live fences, crop fields and wild collection from the nearby environment. The cultivation practice include home gardens, mixed in field crops, live fences and agro-forestry. About 87% of respondents explained that they get medicinal plants easily in the study area and 10% explained that it is difficult. About 76% of respondents explained that medicinal plants are not sold in the market and 23% responded marketability of medicinal plants. About 33% of informants explained that medicinal plants are under threat and 67% explained that they are not threatened. Focus group discussion and key informant interview revealed that people conserve medicinal plant in live fences, home gardens, and they cultivate some species because of their nutraceutical value. They interpreted that there is no specific conservation activities targeted to medicinal planted by extension program. This indicates the necessary strategy and conservation of medicinal plants in the study area. Postharvest handling is not commonly known for many medicinal plants because they are collected and used immediately. Therefore, local people use their knowledge nowadays in this region. The resources require an urgent attention in research and policy which should include training on knowledge of medicinal plants use and management in cultivating, production, postharvest handling, promoting their use and sustainable utilization. Key words: Conservation, medicinal plants, Jimma, Kersa.