Tri thức bản địa về sử dụng thực vật rừng ăn được của đồng bào S’tiêng ở Vườn quốc gia Cát Tiên

Abstract

Based on surveys combining household interviews with Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and the “walk-in-the-wood” method, this paper is to examine the knowledge of S’tieng ethnic minorities in harvesting and using edible forest plants in Cat Tien National Park. The survey identified 94 species of edible forest plants belonging to 44 families used. The majority of them were herbs (37.2%), followed by trees (23.4%), shrubs (20.2%), and finally climbers (19.2%). Plants used as vegetables accounted for 59.6% of the total and 12.8% had UI ≥ 0.8. Many species used as vegetables have been important materials for the favourite daily food of S’tieng ethnic minorities and become an important part of their traditional food culture. However, the knowledge of S’tieng ethnic minorities has not been paid attention to applying, preserving and developing through sustainable plant use yet. So the indigenous knowledge should be applied to sustainable edible plant use and conservation. Especially, the harmful harvesting practices need bannning soon. The highly valued forest plants traditionally used by S’tieng ethnic should be domesticated and commercialized.