Importance of Using Ethnobiological Knowledge for the Conservation of Medicinal Plants Biodiversity in the Lar Region (Iran)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Departmant of Biodiversity and Ecosystem management, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshty University, G. C. Tehran, Iran

2 Faculty of Biological Sciences, Shahid Beheshty University, G. C. Tehran, Iran

3 Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pécs, Hungary

Abstract

Today's world is confronted with many environmental concerns, including the extinction of plant species. Plants are harvested indiscriminately due to their usefulness in medicine, the economy, and agriculture. The need to preserve biodiversity, particularly in the case of plants, necessitates the use of ethnobiological knowledge. Ethnobiological knowledge is traditional knowledge based on indigenous peoples' use of nature and the environment, which they have gained over the years through numerous trials and errors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of indigenous knowledge in the use and conservation of plants by local people.  This study was performed in three villages in Lar National Park: Polour, Ab-e-ask, and Niak, which have the highest population in the Lar region. The primary research method used was qualitative methods such as direct observation, interviews, and questionnaires, as well as instruments such as a voice recorder, Excel software, Arc GIS, and SPSS 25. Our results indicate that indigenous knowledge of local experts in Lar National Park is about the causes of plant decay in this area, germination, flowering time, experts' knowledge about the time and method of harvesting to reduce damage, and valuable therapeutic information about plants. Indigenous knowledge offers significant potential in plant conservation, especially for medicinal plants, exposed to a high risk of extinction due to widespread use. Our results highlight the importance of including local knowledge holders as active partners in biodiversity protection in the Lar region.

Keywords

References

  1. Baser KH.C. Industrial utilization of medicinal and aromatic plants. Proceedings of 2th World Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants for Human Welfare. Mendoza, Argentina. Martino. 1997;10-15 November. 2. Comer M, Debus E. A partnership: Biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals and biodiversity, en F. di Castri & T. Younnes (eds.). Biodiversity. Science and Development, CABI Publ, Oxford, UK. 1996; pp. 488-499.
  2. Eskandari Damaneh N., Sharafatmandrad M. Assessing the Effects of Different Incision Techniques on Ferula assafoetida Properties. J Rangeland Sci. 2017; 7(1): 45-54.
  3. Karimian V., Vahabi M.R., Roustakhiz J., Nodehi N. Identification of Some Ecological Factors Affecting on Essential Oil of Verbascum songaricum Schrenk Shoots (Case Study: Rangelands of Isfahan and Kohgiluyeh and Buyerahmad Provinces, Iran). Iranian Journal of Rangeland Science. 2017; 7(2): 183-194.
  4. Ejtehadi H., Silkchi P., Bahadoran M., Nodoost F. Individual Ecology of Tanacetum (Joharchi) Plants (Iranian Native Plant). Journal of Plant Research (Iranian Journal of Biology). 2014; 29(3): 462-474.
  5. Vejdani H. Medicinal plants and their application in veterinary medicine and animal husbandry. Journal of Animal. 2005; 11. (Persian).
  6. Bisht S., Adhikari B.S. Ethnobotanical Study of Traditional Medicinal Plants used by Banraji Community in Uttarakhand, West Himalaya. The Journal of Ethnobiology and Traditional Medicine. 2018; 129: 1426−1441.
  7. Cunningham C., Beazley K.F. Changes in Human Population Density and Protected Areas in Terrestrial Global Biodiversity Hotspots, 1995–2015. Land. 2018; 7(4):136. DOI: 10.3390/land7040136.
  8. Mirdeilami S.Z., Heshmati G.A., Barani H. Ethnobotanical and Ethnoecological Survey on Medicinal Species (Case Study Kechik Rangelands in the Northeast Golestan Province). Journal of Indigenous Knowledge. 2015; 1(2):129-154. (Persian).
  9. Eréndira M., Quintana M. Ethnobiology and fisheries: Learning from the Past for the Present. Journal of Ethnobiology. 2017; 37(3):369-379.
  10. Mirutse G. Traditional Knowledge of people on plants used as insect repellents and insecticides in Raya_Azebo district, Tigray region of Ethiopia. Indian Journal of Tradition Knowledge. 2018; 17(2):336-343.
  11. Khaleghi B., Awatifi Hemmat M., Shamkhi T., Shirvani A. Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Medicinal Shrubs and Herbaceous Plants in Arasbaran Forest. Journal of Indigenous Knowledge. 2016; 2(4):205-236. (Persian)
  12. Abbasi SH., Afsharzadeh S., Mohajeri A.R. Introduction of plant species with medicinal properties in Natanz region (Kashan). Journal of Herbal Drugs. 2012; 3(3): 147-156. (Persian).
  13. Silva N.C.C., Fernandes Júnior A. Biological properties of medicinal plants: a review of their antimicrobial activity. The Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases. 2010; 16(3): 402-413.
  14. Ghorbani A. Studies on pharmaceutical ethnobotany in the region of Turkmen Sahra, north of Iran (Part 1): General results. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2005; 102(1):58-68.
  15. Ahvazi M., Akbarzadeh M., Khalighi-Sigaroodi F., Kohandel A. Introduce some of the Medicinal Plants Species with the Most Traditional Usage in East Mazandaran Region. Journal of Medicinal Plants. 2012; 11(44):164-175. (Persian)
  16. Ugulu I., Baslar S., Yorek N., Dogan Y. The investigation and quantitative ethnobotanical evaluation of medicinal plants used around Izmir province, Turkey. Journal of Medicinal Plant Research. 2009; 3(5):345-367.
  17. Dolatkhahi M., Ghorbani Nahoji M., Mehrafarin A., Amini Nejad G., Dolatkhahi A. Ethnobotany of medicinal plants in Kazerun city: Identification, distribution. Traditional Uses, Journal of Medicinal Plants. 2012; 11(42):163-178. (Persian)
  18. Bahrami B., Kamali P. Introduction of Medicinal Plants of Mountain Rangelands of Northwest Iran Emphasis on Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge (Case Study: Urmia Ruin Examination Range Ecosystem). J Natural Ecosystems of Iran. 2012; 3(2):59-69. (Persian)
  19. Maghsudi M., Salehi P. Study aboutethnobotany in Evan area. J. Social Sciences. 2014; 67: 244-72. (Persian).
  20. Saadatpour M. Study about indigenousknowledge (Ethnobotany and ethnoecology) of the most important forage and non-forage (edible,medicinal,industrial) plant species in Sojasaroud (Zanjan province). Master’s Thesis, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sci and Natural Resources. 2017.
  21. Mozaffarian V., Mirokili M., Barzegari G. Yazd Flora. Yazd Publishing Institute. 2000.
  22. Pouyan M. Medicinal Plants of South Khorasan. Mashhad Printing Organization. 2008.
  23. Habibi M, Soleiman S, Gholamali Pour E,Jorjani I. Investigation the ethnobotany of medicinal plants in Marivan. The First Conrference of National Resources Management. 2013.8pp. (Persian).
  24. Khodayari H., Amani SH. Ethnobotanical study about medicinal plants in Ize (KhuzestanProvince). The first national conference onmedicinal herbs, traditional medicine and organicfarming, Hamadan, Assessment Board ofHegmataneh Environmental, Centre forDevelopment Conferences Aria Hegmatan. COI:HBHEAITH01_161. 2015; 1-15. (Persian).
  25. Khodayari H., Amani SH., Amiri H. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in different regions of Khuzestan Province. Eco-Phytochemical Journal of Medical Plants of Iran. 2015; 2(4): 12-26.
  26. Mardani nejhad SH., Vazirpour M. Study of ethnobotany of medicinal plants by People of Mobarakeh in the Esfahan province. J. Herbal Drugs. 2012; 2: 111-29. (Persian).
  27. Mirzaei A.F., Mohammadi Kalayeh A., Shahraki M.R., Behmanesh B. Local knowledge of medicinal plants from the point of view of nomads in the rangelands of Chehel-Kaman, North Khorasan province. J. Indigenous Knowledge. 2017; 4: 156- 201. (Persian).
  28. Atri M., Savadkuhi F., Akbarzadeh M. Introducing of medicinal plants of the Gadook's summer ranglands. J Investigation and Application of Medical Plants. 2008; 2(3):9-14. (Persian)
  29. Alcántara Rodríguez M., Angueyra A., Cleef AM,Van Andel T. Ethnobotany of the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy-Güicán: climate change and conservation strategies in the Colombian Andes. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2018; 14:34.
Journal of Medicinal plants and By-Products
Volume 13, Issue 1
March 2024
Pages 21-30

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics