Plants Traditionally Used for Making Utility Products by Forest Dwelling <i>Gaddi</i> and <i>Sippi</i> Tribes in Bhaderwah Tehsil of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India
Tribals are known as the torchbearers of ethnobotany. Traditional plant-derived utility products (PUPs) are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and easy to handle, and are extensively used by the forest-dwelling <i>Gaddi</i> and <i>Sippi</i> tribes of the Union Territor...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/6/409 |
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| Summary: | Tribals are known as the torchbearers of ethnobotany. Traditional plant-derived utility products (PUPs) are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and easy to handle, and are extensively used by the forest-dwelling <i>Gaddi</i> and <i>Sippi</i> tribes of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir for their subsistence. The present study is an attempt to document the invaluable traditional knowledge on wild plants and PUPs possessed by the <i>Gaddi</i> and <i>Sippi</i> tribes before it perishes completely, as this knowledge is transmitted orally to the next generation. Semi-structured schedules were used for the collection of data regarding the method of making and usage of PUPs and the plant species used for making such products. The cultural importance index (CI) and factor informant consensus (F<sub>ic</sub>) were calculated to find the predominant plant species and the consensus among informants for species used in making PUPs, respectively. A total of 52 plant species from 28 families and 46 genera are used in the study area for making 93 PUPs. Tools, with a 55.9% contribution, were the major PUP category. <i>Cedrus deodara</i>, used for making 36 PUPs and having a 4.9 CI value, was the most utilized and important tree species for the <i>Gaddi</i> and <i>Sippi</i> tribes. The values of F<sub>ic</sub> ranged between 0.97 (miscellaneous PUPs) and 0.99 (containers/storage PUPs). The present study documented 43 plant species as new ethnobotanical records from the UT of Jammu and Kashmir for their use in traditional plant products. The <i>Gaddi</i> and <i>Sippi</i> tribes in the study area have extensive knowledge about forest-based PUPs and the associated plant species. This invaluable knowledge can be exploited for developing new resources for some value-added traditional plant products and agro-based cottage industries, which could play an important role in socio-economic upliftment and livelihood promotion of tribals. |
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| ISSN: | 1424-2818 |