Journal of Biodiversity & Endangered Species

Use and Management of Medicinal Trees and Shrubs and Associated Indigenous Knowledge of Warra Dube People, Bale Zone, South-Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Beselam Shiferaw J, Gonfa Kewessa K and Temesgen Bedassa M

Plants are indispensable sources of both preventive and curative in preparations of alternative medicine for human and livestock diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the use and management of medicinal trees and shrubs (TSs) and the indigenous knowledge (IK) of Warra Dube people in Bale Zone of Ethiopia to treat human and animal health problems. For this study Warra Dube communities in Gassera, Gololcha, and Ginnir Districts of Bale Zone were involved. The vegetation type of the study area is categorized under dry ever green mountain forests. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews, field observation and focus group discussions. Alternative healers were selected by snow ball method. Explorative survey study design was used to explore and document medicinal TSs and associated IK of the traditional healers in the area. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 39 species of medicinal TSs belonging to 25 different families were documented. All these are used for the treatment of human and livestock diseases. Of these, 29 species (74.4%) were used for treatment of human diseases, 6 (15.4%) were used to treat livestock diseases and the remaining 4 species (10.2%) for treating both human and livestock diseases. The results of growth form analysis of the reported medicinal species reveals that 11 species were trees and 28 were shrubs. The dominance of shrubs is due to the fact that agro-ecology of the area is low land. The result in the conditions of TSs parts used indicated that about 55.2% were used in fresh form and 34.5% in dried forms and the remaining 10.3% in either fresh or dry forms of preparation. Fifty eight different diseases were recorded as human health problems that are commonly treated by these 39 TSs species. These medicinal TSs are under severe threat due to over utilization by the local communities, hence, awareness creation and development of conservation practices is important.