Documentation Biodiversity Knowledge T Cumentation
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DOCUMENTATION & POPULARIZATION OF BIODIVERSITY RELATED TRADITIONAL K NOWLEDGE THROUGH SCHOOLS IN KERALA , INDIA Preparation of Community Biodiversity Register Organized by: Supported by: Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences, Korea Green Foundat ion , Kottayam, Kerala, India Seoul, Korea Documentation and Popularization of Biodiversity Related Traditional Knowledge through Schools in Kerala, India Preparation of Community Biodiversity Register Documentation and Popularization of Biodiversity Related Traditional Knowledge through Schools in Kerala, India Preparation of Community Biodiversity Registers January 2015 Project Coordinators Dr. Punnen Kurian Venkadathu Dr. Nelson P. Abraham Report written and compiled by: Nimisha K. Amaldev Manoj P. Roshini Susan Elias SiniJoshy Pradeep Thomas Shyamkumar S. Krishnapriya Organised by: Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences, Ecological Research Campus, Velloor P.O., Kottayam- 686 501 Tel: 0481 250 3988 Email:[email protected] Web: www.ties.org.in Preface India is one of the twelve mega biodiversity countries of the world. Although it comprises of only 2.4 percent of the total land area, India already accounts for 7 percent to 8 percent of the recorded species of the world. The Western Ghats, lies in the western side of India, is rich in biodiversity resources and is considered as one of the global biodiversity hotspot. However, the loss of biodiversity has been so great as never before in Western Ghats due to change in topographical and climatic conditions. Conservation of biodiversity lays equal stress on utilization, preservation and protection of natural resources. Moreover, knowledge base of rare species and associated traditional knowledge are being eroded eventually leading to the loss of traditional knowledge. Traditional knowledge associated with natural resources plays a vital role in the utilization of country’s biodiversity. Mostly, traditional knowledge is orally transacted to the next generations, which often go unrecorded. A well organized and documented database of the traditional knowledge is imperative for the best utilization, protection and preservation of these resources. The Indian Biodiversity Protection Act 2002 requires legal documentation of local species along with the associated traditional knowledge and practices. Documentation and Popularization of Biodiversity Related Traditional Knowledge through Schools in Kerala, India has been initiated by Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences, Kottayam, sponsored by the Korea Green Foundation (KGF) and in support of Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development (ACESSD), Mahatma Gandhi University. It aims to promote documentation and conservation of biological resources and its associated traditional knowledge involving students, teachers and local people. Acknowledgement TIES would like to express our deepest gratitude to Korea Green Foundation (KGF) for funding the Documentation and Popularization of Biodiversity Related Traditional Knowledge through Schools in Kerala, India project and for their continual support in during the project. Our special thanks to the TIES project team, who has extended their great support in selecting schools for the study. Besides, our sincere gratitude to the institutions, M.G.M. Higher Secondary School, Thiruvalla, Y.M.C.A, Thiruvalla and Newman College, Thodupuzha that supported us in hosting the workshop events. Furthermore, we appreciate the collaboration and assistance received from the Advanced Centre of Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development (ACESSD), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam throughout the project period. Last but not the least, we are highly indebted to the participated schools, headmasters/headmistresses, teacher guides and the selected students, who have actively participated in the study and helped in data collection and preparation of the community biodiversity register. We are grateful to the public who shared necessary information and traditional knowledge regarding local biodiversity with the students. The study and finalization of the project within the limited time frame would have been impossible without all their contribution, cooperation, and effort. Contents 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 1.1.Aims and Objectives ........................................................................................................................................ 10 2. Methodology .................................................................................................................................................... 11 2.1. Location of Study ............................................................................................................................................ 12 2.2. List of Participating Schools, Teacher Guides and Students .......................................................................... 12 2.3. Areas of Research Study................................................................................................................................ 26 3. Results ............................................................................................................................................................. 27 3.1. Vegetables, Fruits and Crops (wild and cultivated) ......................................................................................... 27 3.1.1 Classification of Vegetables According to the Parts Used ...................................................................... 31 3.1.1 (b) Vegetables –Inflorescence Used ....................................................................................................... 38 3.1.1 (c) Vegetables –Leaves Used ................................................................................................................. 40 3.1.1 (d) Vegetables –Seeds Used .................................................................................................................. 44 3.1.1 (e) Vegetables –Stem Used .................................................................................................................... 46 3.1.1 (f) Vegetables –Tubers Used .................................................................................................................. 47 3.2. Medicinal plants .............................................................................................................................................. 50 3.2.1. Classification of Medicinal Plants Based on Parts Used ........................................................................ 56 3.2.1 (a) Medicinal Plants –All Parts Used ....................................................................................................... 57 3.2.1 (b) Medicinal Plants –Flowers Used ....................................................................................................... 58 3.2.1(c) Medicinal Plants –Tubers Used .......................................................................................................... 61 3.2.1 (d) Medicinal Plants –Resin Used ........................................................................................................... 62 3.2.1 (e) Medicinal Plants –Bark Used............................................................................................................. 63 3.2.1 (f) Medicinal Plants –Wood Used ............................................................................................................ 65 3.2.1 (g) Medicinal Plants –Leaves Used ........................................................................................................ 65 3.2.1 (h) Medicinal Plants –Stem Used ............................................................................................................ 75 3.2.1 (i) Medicinal Plants –Seeds Used ........................................................................................................... 79 3.2.1 (i) Medicinal Plants –Fruits Used ............................................................................................................ 80 3.2.1 (j) Medicinal Plants –Roots Used ............................................................................................................ 85 3.3. Flowering plants, trees, shrubs, grasses, vines and creepers ........................................................................ 91 3.4. Butterflies and their host plants .................................................................................................................... 113 3.5. Birds and their feeding patterns .................................................................................................................... 121 3.6. Fishes ........................................................................................................................................................... 134 3.7. Dragonfly ...................................................................................................................................................... 138 3.8. Spiders ......................................................................................................................................................... 143 3.9. Cultural Diversity .......................................................................................................................................... 147 4. Programmes .................................................................................................................................................