The diversity of medicinal plants in secondary forest post-upland farming in West Kalimantan

• Main Author: Caniago, I. (USAID, NRM2, Jakarta (Indonesia))
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Bogor (Indonesia) CIFOR 1999
• Subjects: BIODIVERSIDAD; BIODIVERSITE; BIODIVERSITY; BOSQUE SECUNDARIO; DRUG PLANTS; FARMING SYSTEMS; FORET SECONDAIRE; HIGHLANDS; KALIMANTAN; PLANTAS MEDICINALES; PLANTE MEDICINALE; REGION D'ALTITUDE; SECONDARY FORESTS; SISTEMAS DE EXPLOTACION; SYSTEME D'EXPLOITATION AGRICOLE; USES; USOS; UTILISATION; ZONA DE MONTANA
• ISBN: 979876434X; 9789798764349

This study documents the abundance, distribution and knowledge of medicinal plant species in a Ransa Dayak village and adjoining forest in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The villagers utilise over 200 medicinal plant species from 165 genera and 75 families. Late successional, primary forest and river bench forest contained the highest diversity of locally used medicinal species and the greatest number of species restricted to a single forest type for which alternative species or remedies were unavailable. Epiphytes and trees restricted to primary forest are particularly important sources of plants used to treat unusual ailments. A 100 percent survey of village resident, ant least 15 years of age, revealed that people older than 25, and older females in particular, possessed greater knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses than younger people and males. All residents, except the male healer, were more knowledgeable about medicinal plants found in early successional forests than those in primary forests. The loss of habitat through deforestation and of traditional knowledge through acculturation pose twin challenges to the persistence of traditional medicinal plant use in this Ransa village and throughout much of Kalimantan.