Wild edible plant used by ethnic peoples on the boundary of subtropical & temperate natural forest, Mamlay watershed, South Sikkim

Abstract

Wild edible plants (WEPs) are a rich bio-resource of Sikkim, Himalaya having a high nutritional value. Local people of the Sikkim commonly use wild edible plants in their diet on regular basis. This present study aimed at documenting wild edible plants utilized by the local inhabitants of Mamlay watershed which was carried out during the year 2017-2019. The study explored a total of 49 wild edible plants belonging to 31 families, 44 genera, and 49 species. About 34 WEPs were recorded from temperate natural forest TNF and 31 wild edible plants were recorded from subtropical natural forest STNF. Two studies conducted with a gap of twenty years revealed that a large part of WEPs recorded is from tree source showing a marked forest dependency. The collection of WEPs in the form of entire plants, roots or tubers was at the lowest suggesting the people’s awareness to conservation and also revealed that market price value of wild edible plants has increased highly in the study area.