Indigenous Knowledge of Local Communities in Utilization of Ethnoveterinary Medicinal Plants and Their Conservation Status in Dess’a Priority Forest, North Eastern Escarpment of Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract BackgroundEthnoveterinary plant medicine plays indispensable role in many developing counties in treatment of livestock health problems. Dess’a priority forest is a bridge for small scale farming communities in Tigray and the Afar pastoralists, where both communities are rich in herds of domestic animals including camels. The study was aimed at investigating the utilization of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants and their conservation status in Dess’a priority forest, northeastern escarpment of Ethiopia.MethodsA total of 22 key and 252 general informants were selected using purposive and random sampling technique respectively. Interview was conducted using pre-prepared semi-structured questionnaire following focus group discussion with elderly people. Guided field walk and direct observation were also used to collect the required data. Data were analyzed using Microsoft office word excel (2007), scoring and ranking. ResultsThis study discovered that fifty-six ethnoveterinary medicinal plants distributed among 31 families and 49 genera, used by traditional healers for treatment of 37 livestock health problems, were identified in the study area. Wound (24%), Cough (15%) and abdominal bloat (12%) were the most prevalent aliments. Fabaceae (16%), Solanaceae (11%) and Amaranthaceae (7%) were wealthiest families. Majority of which (43%) were shrubs and principal sources of the medicinal plants were wild habitat (44.6%). major plant parts used were leaves (43%). In most cases, freshly harvested plant remedies (49%), were prepared by pounding (21%) followed by Crushing (12%). Oral (34%) was the principal route of remedy administration. Nicotiana glauca Graham & Solanum marginatum L. were most preferred ethnoveterinary medicinal plants. Uprooting (37%) were the leading harvesting method and majority of the plants were rarely encountered (53%). Deforestation (32%), Drought (27%) and climate change (18%) were major threats.ConclusionThere is huge amount of indigenous knowledge of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants, but healers were secretive and did not share their knowledge freely, resulting in danger of information loss, and inappropriate utilization.