INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE IN FOREST NOMENCLATURE IN SRI LANKA: AN APPLIED ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY

Abstract

Recently Applied Ethnobotany is recognized as a fascinating field forresearch which enables an interdisciplinary approach to development thathelps to explore Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and its capacity to effect changein Biodiversity Conservation and Natural Resource Management (NRM).This research aimed an ethnobotanical analysis on ecological perspective ofcultural and spiritual implications of forest nomenclature in ruralcommunities, which can be defined in terms of conservation. For this study43 village localities from 5 areas with different geo-ecological and socioculturalbackgrounds were selected. 616 local informants selected fromvarious impact groups were interviewed and data collected by theparticipatory action research methodologies during the period of 18 months.

Total number of forest areas reported in all the areas is 834 out of which, 766forest areas bear suffixes describing vegetation type or habitat features orfloristic characteristics of the forest. That is 91.8% as a percentage. Totalnumber of species used for this nomenclature is 161 out of which 105(65.2%) are playing ecologically very important role in conservation. Thesespecies are playing remarkably vital role in ecosystem as biodiversitygenerative, keystone and flagship species that up keep sustainable survival ofthe ecosystem being vital indicators of micro-ecological changes of thenatural habitat. Out of total forest areas, 279 (33.4%) forest areas are namedafter a floristic source. Out of total species 121 (75.1 %) are registered for anykind of cultural, ritualistic, religious use by the community and have becomemore sacred or venerable. The average percentage of culturally andspiritually important plant species is 75.8% and 92.9% of threatened plantsare culturally important as perceived by the community.