Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants: A Case Study of Community Perceptions, Gendered Roles, and Pathways for Sustainable Management in Yagang and Gengu Villages, Darla Gewog, Chhukha

Abstract

Wild edible and medicinal plants (WEMPs) play a critical role in the livelihoods of forest-adjacent communities, yet integrated village-level evidence from Bhutan remains limited. This study examined WEMP diversity, household dependence, gendered roles, knowledge transmission, and perceived threats in Yagang and Gengu villages, Darla Gewog, Chhukha District. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and field-based plant-use records, yielding 58 valid respondent records and 101 plant records. A total of 101 species were documented, including 48 medicinal-only, 38 edible-only, and 15 dual-use species. Household reliance on WEMPs was nearly universal (98.3%), primarily for medicine (96.5%), food (80.7%), and nutrition (80.7%), with minimal contribution to income (1.8%). Knowledge was transmitted predominantly through grandparents (98.2%), indicating strong intergenerational continuity. Gendered roles were evident, with men more frequently involved in plant collection and women primarily. Responsible for preparation and storage. Most respondents (94.1%) perceived a decline in WEMP populations, attributing this trend to multiple interrelated pressures, including cattle grazing, unsustainable harvesting, and land-use change. Despite these perceived declines, respondents expressed strong support for the domestication of WEMPs and their integration into agroforestry systems. These findings are based on respondents’ perception rather than direct ecological measurements and are therefore specific to the two villages. The results highlight the importance of localized, gender-responsive, and agroforestry-based strategies for sustaining WEMP systems while maintaining their ecological and socio-cultural function.