Pradheeps M, Research Scholar, Dept of Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University

1. Indigenous Traditional Knowledge of Irula Tribes on Medicinal Plants from Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Pradheeps M, Research Scholar, Dept of Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University Dr. G Poyyamoli, Associate Professor, Dept of Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University

2. Background • NBR– 5520 sq.kms, 3 states of South India • Biodiversity – Flora and fauna • Forest types of NBR- TDF, MDF,SJ • Tribal communities of NBR-Todas, Kotas, Irulas& JenuKurumbas • Major occupation of tribals- Artisans, Pastrolists, Farmers, Honey dwellers & Laborers • Tribal traditional knowledge and medicinal plants

3. Community based Conservation Approaches of forest conservation have not been directly tied to local conservation attitudes and behavior- Hence no incentive to conserve these forest resources (Salafsky & Wollenberg 2000). • Tribal medicine and their use • Study site and Irula community • Irula settlements

4. Objectives • to identify the conservation status of the medicinal plant species in selected tribal settlement. • to assess the threats for the selected medicinal plant species. • to evaluate the community based conservation efforts for medicinal plants in the study area. • to perform Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat(SWOT) analysis for working towards the sustainable harvesting in the region.

5. Study site – Sigur plateau

7. Methodology • Data collection – Stratified random sampling along with SSI • How do people perceive illness & what are the beliefs & practices influencing the health behavior • Role of indigenous medical practitioners & folk medicine in relation to health & medical care • Different herb and shrub species used for treatment • Method of preparation and treatment • Opinions towards the herbal medicine • How much medicinal herb they consume (daily intake) • level of knowledge and awareness about it.

8. Selection of species • The species selection for the study of conservation status was done based on two criteria: • Plants mentioned by the respondents as rare or difficult to procure along with the use mentioned by the >15 % of the respondents. • Plants mentioned in the Red list FRLHT and with the use mentioned by the >15%) of the respondents. (accessed on 12/2/10 www.frlht.org.in/ )

9. Inventory • Stratified random sampling in choosing the plots • Area of availability of medicinal plants as mentioned by more than 15% of respondents • Relatively undisturbed nature of the study sites • For trees the size of the plots designed were 10X10m, • for climbers 10X10m • for herbs 5X5m respectively as recommended by (www.mawf.gov.na/.../Forestry/.../National%20Forest%20Inventory.pdaccessed on 4.4.10).

10. Bio-Resource use • 37 trees (35%), • 34 herbs (32%) • 30 shrubs(28%) • 5 climbers(5%)

11. Percentagecontributionfrom different parts of the plants studied for the reported medicinal use

12. Conservation statusAccording to FRLHT RED DATA BOOK, 2000 Vulnerable • Curcuma pseudomontana (Wounds & Cuts) • Aegle marmelos (Diarrhoea) Lower risk Least concerned • Raphidophora pertusa (Boils & tumors) • Moringa concanensis (Dysentery& Deworming) Locally extinct • Givotia mollucana(Jaundice& Breathing problems) • Andrographis serphilifolia(Snake antidote)

13. Vulnerable IUCN category Aegle marmelos Curcuma pseudomontana

14. Lower risk Least concerned Raphidophora pertusa Moringa concanensis

15. Locally extinct Givotia mollucana Andrographis serphilifolia

16. SWOT Analysis (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) Strength • Mudumalai Tiger reserve • NGOs in creating awareness • Scientific awareness and Human resources available • Local people’s awareness of MPs. Weakness • Policy frameworks biased • No inventory of floral resource and medicinal plants • Lack of support to MPs, & financial support for community based activities • Acculturation

17. Opportunities • AYUSH & TNFD can promote community based MP co-operatives for SH. • Presence of Grass root level NGOs, CBOs and R&D • Opp. in action research for vulnerable and threatened MPs • Networking opportunities Threats • Loss of TK and Bio-piracy • Un organized sector • lack of extension activities • Lack of specific measures for rehabilitation and recovery plans of MPs.

18. Conclusion • Most of the MPs collected from forest (80%) & followed by farm lands(22%) • Most of MPs utilized in the form of Leaves, Leaf paste (34%)& Bark (23%) • Threats faced by the MPs and its present status – in the localized inventory sites- Highly degraded ( for A.marmelos observation shows 10 years back 5 trees were present and at present only one tree in a dying condition) • Establishment of community nurseries and replanting for these declining medicinal plant species • Nongovernmental organizations -promoting the community based conservation activities by employing the irula people in nurseries, • tribal healers -the identification skills to the school children(CONSERVATION EDUCATION)

19. Discussion • Activity based environmental education - medicinal plant conservation -minor afforestation projects, with special emphasis on MPs -the village boundaries • Community based approach will be a highly successful to document and valorize the traditional ethnobotanical knowledge base • It will provide recognition of this undocumented knowledge and help in conservation of such rare, gradually vanishing important medicinal plants used for snake bite and other diseases • As of now the currently adopted pseudo-ecotourism model is at loggerheads with long term sustainability. This should be replaced by CBET based on endogenous tribal knowledge and wisdom

20. A forest is for life not just for clearance Thank you