Ethnobiological knowledge and socio-biodiversity value among Kutia-Kandha tribe of Odisha, India

Abstract

and nearby areas of Odisha, where the population of Kutia-Kandha tribe is dominant. It was found that, forest has provided tribes with enough materials for traditional used for therapeutic purpose. Information from secondary sources by interviews were conducted in eight villages surrounding Kotagarh Wildlife Sanctuary, in which 34 males, 22 females in the age group of 35 -75 and 8 therapeutic practitioners of Kutia Kandha tribe of Odisha were consulted. The tribes reported 54 different diseases, cured from 52 plant species belonging to 51 genera and 32 families, which are used for ethno medicinal practices. The Fabaceae found to be the dominant family among plants used for medicinal purpose, whereas for ethnozoological use, a total of 8 mammalian species were used for curing 17 different diseases, most of them are either threatened or endangered species. This paper narrates the enthnobiology and socio-biodiversity aspects of Kutia-Kandha community of Odisha, along with suggestions for alternate source of medicines for the Kutia-Kandha, to reduce dependency on forests product and reduce hunting of wildlife.