Eating from the wild: diversity of wild edible plants used by Tibetans in Shangri-la region, Yunnan, China

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Chunlin Long³  Bo Liu²  Jingxian Zhuo¹  Yan Ju² 

[1] School of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, PR China;College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, PR China;Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, PR China

关键词: Shangri-la region;    Ethnobotany;    Biodiversity;    Traditional knowledge;    Wild edible plants;   

Others  :  862448
DOI  :  10.1186/1746-4269-9-28

 received in 2013-01-23, accepted in 2013-04-05,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Locally harvested wild edible plants (WEPs) provide food as well as cash income for indigenous people and are of great importance in ensuring global food security. Some also play a significant role in maintaining the productivity and stability of traditional agro-ecosystems. Shangri-la region of Yunnan Province, SW China, is regarded as a biodiversity hotspot. People living there have accumulated traditional knowledge about plants. However, with economic development, WEPs are threatened and the associated traditional knowledge is in danger of being lost. Therefore, ethnobotanical surveys were conducted throughout this area to investigate and document the wild edible plants traditionally used by local Tibetan people.

Methods

Twenty-nine villages were selected to carry out the field investigations. Information was collected using direct observation, semi-structured interviews, individual discussions, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaires and participatory rural appraisal (PRA).

Results

Information about 168 wild edible plant species in 116 genera of 62 families was recorded and specimens were collected. Most species were edible greens (80 species) or fruits (78). These WEPs are sources for local people, especially those living in remote rural areas, to obtain mineral elements and vitamins. More than half of the species (70%) have multiple use(s) besides food value. Some are crop wild relatives that could be used for crop improvement. Several also have potential values for further commercial exploitation. However, the utilization of WEPs and related knowledge are eroding rapidly, especially in the areas with convenient transportation and booming tourism.

Conclusion

Wild food plants species are abundant and diverse in Shangri-la region. They provide food and nutrients to local people and could also be a source of cash income. However, both WEPs and their associated indigenous knowledge are facing various threats. Thus, conservation and sustainable utilization of these plants in this area are of the utmost importance. Documentation of these species may provide basic information for conservation, possibly further exploitation, and will preserve local traditional knowledge.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Ju et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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