Potential Wild Edible Plants and its Significance in Livelihood of Indigenous People of Male Mahadeshwara Hills, Karnataka

Abstract

Wild edibles plants refer to non-cultivated edible plants seen in the natural forest, fallow land, agricultural land. A variety of wild edible plants used by indigenous and tribal communities contributes significantly towards the livelihoods and socio-ecology of a landscape. Our paper examines the wild edible plants available in Male Mahadeshwara (MM Hills) Chamrajnagra, Karnataka, their uses, and scope of value addition to increase economic benefit and sustainable forest management. The Majority of the tribal people is dependent on collection of forest products followed by agriculture and allied activities in and around the Sanctuary. Documentation has been done for wild edibles in detail, concerning about its use, price, availability, season, quantity sold and communities involved with the marketing of wild edible species. A total of 80 wild edible plant species with family, local name, habit, feasibility scale being used by the tribal communities for their sustenance for life, were documented from the study area. The tribal people i.e., Soligas and Lingayats, are very close to nature and have traditional hereditary knowledge of consuming wild plants and their parts viz., shoots, leaves, rhizomes, bark, etc. as a source of food and medicine. Analysis of the field data has shown that the wild edible plants are an essential source of income as a subsidiary livelihood option for local farm families. It is suggested that promotion of value-added wild edibles has the potential can reduce overexploitation of other forest resources and policies need to be formulated to conserve these plants in the wild habitats within the study area.