ETHNOBOTANY OF AQUEOUS PLANTS AT NONG HAN KUMPHAWAPI WETLAND, UDORNTHANI, THAILAND: SAVING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE THROUGH LOCAL RESOURCE-BASED ECONOMY

An ethnobotanic study of aquatic plants at Nong Han Kumphawapi—a wetland of international importance, Udornthani, Thailand was conducted from June to August, 2006. Data were collected by in-depth interviews of seven senior villagers and traditional healers, coupled with field and local market surveys. In total, 62 species (33 families) of aquatic plants were reported to be used for subsistence, including food, medicines, household tools, animal feed and community rituals. Edible and medicinal plants are most frequently harvested, accounted for 45% and 26% of all identified species respectively. The family most frequently used is Cyperaceae i.e. Scirpus grossus L.f. and Cyperus corymbosus Hook.f. Key informants reported that ethnobotanic knowledge was passed along through storytellers rather than written documentation. Currently, due to technology development, socio-cultural transformation, access to market goods and nature of knowledge transfer, ethnobotany especially use of medicinal plants is fading away. Hence, loss of potential usefulness is likely even before these species can be studied. Wetland resource management, including detailed assessment of ecosystem status, biodiversity quantities, productivity potential, and sustainable use methods is necessary. Furthermore, local communities need to recognize the importance of ethnobotany and participate in the management. Day-to-day use and value addition of these species need to be promoted, so ethnobotany becomes part of a community economy. This can be seen in Thailand under the national program called “OTOP—One Tambon (an products made from local resources and selects one to generate its economy. administrative level equivalent to sub-district) One Product.” Every Tambon develops its most uniqu

Wood-based solutions for forests and people: An editorial to this Special Issue

Tress in or outside forests have been essential in human health and well-being since the beginning of time as ecosystem goods, such as food, timber, energy, water, and other services such as climate regulation and watershed conservation. Wood is an indefinitely renewable natural resource when managed sustainably. Wood-based solutions, such as growing and utilizing woody biomass for energy, building and infrastructure construction, and as raw materials for a variety of wood products, provide a unique opportunity to tackle global sustainability challenges, such as rural development, poverty alleviation and climate change, as well as increasing food and energy security and reducing vulnerability to natural disturbances, such as storm protection and flood regulation. This special issue aims to advance our understanding of rural economic development opportunities through wood-based solutions, including climate smart agroforestry and timber harvests, especially from small-scale tree plantations owned or controlled by small holders and community groups, or from forest thinning treatments and salvage logging to improve forest health in public lands