The Local Genetic Conservation and the Indigenous Knowledge of the Medicinal Plant Biodiversity Utilization of Lainan Sub District in Wiang Sa District in Nan Province

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the local genetics, the utilization of the biodiversity of medicinal plants and the indigenous knowledge of plants. Samples of medicinal plants, local genetics and rare plants were collected and examined in order to detect their types and names according to documents pertaining to taxonomy and botany. Moreover, local expertise, knowledgeable people and locals were interviewed for their wisdom. Meanwhile, the researcher observed the community context relating to the utilization of biodiversity. The findings revealed that there were a large number of medicinal plants in the area of the Boonrueang village in which twenty medicinal plants and spices: Smilax corbularia Kunth, Elephantopus scaber, Stemona tuberosa Lour, Boesenbergia rotunda, Helicteres isora, Berchemia floribunda Wall, Curcuma sessilis Gage, Celastrus paniculatus Willd, Dioscorea bulbifera, Dioscorea hispida Dennst, Butea superba, Trachelospermum asiaticum, Schleichera oleosa, Croton stellatopilosus Ohba, Oroxylum indicum, Phyllanthus emblica, Antidesma montanum Blume, Chebulic Myrobalans, and Calameae, were utilized. Moreover, after observing the biodiversity, other thirty-seven types of medicinal plants were discovered; however, they were only utilized by the few amounts of herbal expertise - seniors, who lived in the village and other districts. According to this, there were some concerns regarding the loss of the wisdom of medicinal plant utilization without transferring to new generations.