Ethnobotanical heritage of Ban Nongtae Community Forest, Ban Dan District, Buri Ram Province, Thailand
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Abstract. Saensouk P, Saensouk S, Boonma T, Rakarcha S, Setyawan AD, Chanthavongsa K, Jitpromma T. 2025. Ethnobotanical heritage of Ban Nongtae Community Forest, Ban Dan District, Buri Ram Province, Thailand. Asian J Ethnobiol 8: 182-191. This study explores plant diversity and ethnobotanical uses in the Ban Nongtae Community Forest, Buri Ram Province, Thailand. Field surveys and interviews were conducted with 30 local informants to document species and their uses. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to summarize use categories, species frequency, and life forms, providing insight into community reliance and conservation priorities. A total of 33 plant species from 20 families were identified, with Apocynaceae and Fabaceae each of 4 species (12.12%) being the most utilized. The dominant life forms were herbs and shrubs, indicating a vegetation structure sensitive to disturbance. The local community depends on these plants for daily needs, i.e. 18 species are used for medicine, 12 species for food, and others for fuel, fodder, ornamentals, and rituals. Notable species, include Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton and Urceola polymorpha (Pierre) D.J.Middleton & Livsh. have high use values of 0.40 and 0.37, respectively. Most species, 29 out of 33 species (87.8%) are native and play key roles in maintaining ecosystem resilience. However, unsustainable practices, such as harvesting heartwood, pose risks to plant populations. Conservation efforts should prioritize native species with high use values, promote sustainable harvesting, and integrate traditional knowledge to support long-term biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
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