An Ethnobotanical Study of Non-Timber Forest Products in Dorokha, Bhutan

Abstract

The knowledge of indigenous people regarding the surrounding environment, local biodiversity, and their management have helped them thrive over thousands and millions of years. The indigenous people are local successors of various cultures. Their way of linking the environment with people who have cherished cultural, traditional, environmental, economic, social, and political views is diverse among modern lifestyles. Local traditional knowledge is dependent on the communication of man with nature. Local traditional knowledge focuses on the interrelationships and communications of living entities with one another and their surrounding environment. The survey listed around 146 plant species (52 trees, 19 shrubs, 48 herbs, 5 bamboo, and 23 climbers) under 67 families and 112 genera. Out of 146 species, 6 are used for dye extractions, 6 are used for fibre extractions or as a rope, 31 are used as fodder for livestock, 5 are used as bamboo, 7 are used as fuelwood and 3 species for the broom. NTFP is also used to make agricultural equipment, consumed as snacks, vegetables, and raw fruits, made into pickles, or dried up to be used during the cold season. Out of 246 species, 71 species (22 trees, 6 shrubs, 36 herbs, and 7 climbers) belonging to 46 families and 64 genera were used as medicinal plants.