Abstract
The significance of open and accessible biodiversity data is increasingly receiving attention among ecologists and conservation biologists. However, there is a scarcity on the information focusing on indigenous knowledge of biodiversity particularly in developing economies where such knowledge is highly concentrated. To address this gap, we introduced the Herbolario v. 1: A Database of Medicinal Plants Used in the 21st Century by Ethnolinguistic Groups in the Philippines, aiming to consolidate, digitally store, and make data publicly available following the principle of FAIR data-sharing. Herbolario v. 1 presents a comprehensive FAIR database focusing on the diversity and distribution of ethnomedicinal plants used by 35 ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines. The database includes 13, 402 interaction records of ethnolinguistic groups of 796 plant (and algae) species from 160 families and 68 orders. This initiative offers a vital platform for preserving and disseminating indigenous knowledge and protecting traditional practices and cultural heritage. Additionally, incorporating this knowledge into broader biodiversity databases will improve the comprehensiveness and accuracy of global biodiversity assessments and conservation strategies. Furthermore, by making such data accessible, it can stimulate interdisciplinary research and foster cooperation among traditional knowledge holders, scientists, and policymakers.