Indigenous Knowledge and Plant Utilization

Indigenous people the ‘stewards’ of biological diversity possess stores of traditional knowledge about their local environments, flora, ecosystem dynamics and plant utilization.These people are fundamental stake holders in the implementation of conservation plans. Biodiversity and indigenous knowledge are complementary phenomena essential to human development. The preamble of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), recognizes the “close and traditional dependence of many Indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles on biological resources. The book Indigenous knowledge and plant utilization aims to preserve and disseminate traditional knowledge helping in effective and realistic conservation and sustainable management of plant resources and evaluate their potential for broader applications. The contents includes : • Botanical Anthelmintics • Cultural Significance of Ethnic Plants of Central India • Medicinal Plants from Mint Family of Manipur Valley • Bamboo Diversity in Traditions and Culture of Manipur • Tropical Ginger-A Potential Antioxidant Plant and a Good Radioprotector • Medicinal Potential and Some of the Biochemical Analysis of Justicia adhatoda Linn. of Manipur • Ethnomedicinal Perspectives From Wetlands of Manipur • Black Turmeric (Curcuma caesia Roxb): Its Importance, Ecology and Conservation • Conservation of Ethnomedicinal Plants Through Sacred Groves : A Case Study from Bargarh District of Odisha (India) • Ethnomedicinal Uses of Some Plants among the Meitei Communities of Imphal East and West Districts, Manipur, India • Bioactivity Directed Evaluation of Wild Curcuma Species • Commercial and Ethnobotanical Importance of Arundo donax L. in Manipur • Medicinal Perspectives of Some Plants of Family Zingiberaceae • Studies on the Mode of Use of Certain Medicinal Plants for the Management of Diabetes • Ethnomedicinal Plants: Indigenous Knowledge System of Naga Tribes • Makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb.): A Significant Neutraceutical. The purpose of this book is to revitalize indigenous knowledge systems and blend them with modern scientific advancement and technology in a broad range of areas: crop and livestock husbandry, participatory research, handicrafts and even traditional medical practices that will boost the productivity and enhance the resilience of the concerned indigenous communities.