Traditional Medicinal Plants, Cultural Practices and Biodiversity Conservation among Tribal Communities of Kanker, Chhattisgarh

Abstract

Traditional medicinal plants are an integral part of the tribal communities’ health care, cultural life
and biodiversity. This study focuses on the ethnobotanical survey of traditional medicinal plants
and cultural practices of the tribal communities of Chhattisgarh, India, with an emphasis on their
role in biodiversity conservation and eco-friendly practices. The present work was carried out
through field surveys and personal communication with respondents in order to document
medicinally important species and their associated folklore. Bagod, Sarangpal, Narharpur and
Govindpur were selected as target villages for the survey. Medicinally important plant species
were studied and their respective ethnobotanical data were recorded. Herbarium specimens of the
collected plant species were prepared and deposited in the regional herbarium for future reference.
Information on the use of various parts of the selected species was gathered through personal
contact with the local people and traditional healers. Particular attention was given to plants used
in tribal Karma, Sarhul and Jeotiya festivals. A phytosociological analysis of medicinally
important plant species was performed. It was found that conserving tribal knowledge and
biodiversity goes hand in hand which in turn promotes an eco-friendly lifestyle and sustainable
development. The present work is expected to make a useful contribution to biodiversity
conservation, ethnobotanical studies and pharmaceutical research of the study area.