Will the role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems help in sustaining utilization and conservation of indigenous medicinal plants?

Abstract

Several rural communities use indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) for decision making related to human and animal health, education, food security, and natural resources management. The utilisation of indigenous plants by local communities is not random and haphazard, rather, local communities have utilised their IKS to foster sustainable utilisation and conservation of indigenous plants. Only a small proportion of this knowledge has been documented, yet it remains a valuable repository that provides us with information on how numerous local communities have interacted with the flora and fauna of their changing environment. The IKS is culturally enshrined and comprised of behavioural corrective norms, capable of changing local peoplesʼ perspectives towards biodiversity resources. Therefore, the current presentation considers the indigenous cultures and strategies that have shaped the sustainable utilization and conservation of medicinal plants. Indigenous practices are important for the sustainable utilisation and conservation of medicinal plants by rural communities which are enshrined in myths, taboos, values, folklore, traditional beliefs, rituals and traditional institutions. Myths and taboos have been used to conserve various indigenous resources for sustainability, based on prior knowledge of the importance of a particular genetic resource. Traditional leadership are the primary custodians of rural areas and play a significant role in protecting and preserving indigenous resources through igniting the cultural values and norms within the communities. It is important to understand the IKS before conserving the medicinal plants because about 80% of people worldwide depend on medicinal or traditional health care from medicinal plants.