Ethnobotanical Study of Wild and Semi-Wild Edible Plants in and Aroundtselim-Dur Forest of Raya Alamata Woreda, Tigraynational Regional State of Ethiopia.
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Date
2019-08-08
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Ethnobotanical studies were conducted to identify and document Wild and Semi Wild Edible Plants in and around Tselimdur forest Raya Alamata woreda southern Tigray Ethiopia. The study were made using a combination of methods namely household semi structure interview, focus group discussion, guided field walk, market survey and field walk observation. Atotal of 72 households‟ /informants/ were selected through purposive sampling methods from the district area for interview. Each informant was asked to list the Wild and Semi Wild Edible Plants traditionally consumed in the area, the edible part of the plants, and mode of consumption. In addition they were asked to the seasonal availability of the plant and the commonly marketed plants. About 37 Wild and Semi Wild Edible Plants belonging to 31 genera and 23 families were reported as commonly eaten in the study area. Beside this, they were asked the threats and traditional conservation measures of the plants. Different WSWEPs have various economic values like medicine, fodder, forage. The dependence on such plants has gradually decline due to deforestation of the natural habitats and modernization. Some of the edible plants in the district area were Carissa spinarum, Ximenia americana, Zizphus spina-christi, Balanites aegyptiaca, and Opuntia ficus-indica. The most preferred wild and semi wild edible plants were Opuntia ficus-indica, Zizphus spina-christi and Balanites aegyptiaca. Expansion of agriculture, over grazing and urbanization were the most distractive factors. Increasing the awareness of communities on valuable of wild and semi wild edible plants and securing alternative income sources, is necessary in any rural development programmed aiming at securing food and sustaining its resources in the area.
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Wild and Semi Wild Edible Plants, Tselim-Dur, Raya Alamata, Ethnobotanic, Forest