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Research Article
Being Blessed by Qomolangma: The Diversity and Local Knowledge of Wild Edible Plants Used by Chenthang Sherpa People to Treat Seasonal Food Shortage
Yuhua Wang
Kunming Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3138-1312
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Wild edible plants (WEPs), which are identified as non-cultivated and non-domesticated plants for food. WEPs provided food, nutrition, herbs and other plant products for people in underdeveloped areas, such as the Everest region, to maintain their daily lives. Chenthang Town is the only Sherpa ethnic township in China. The core purpose of this research is to investigate, collect, and record the WEPs and related local knowledge and functions in the Sherpa community. Looking forward to answering the ultimate question, why did Sherpa people choose these plants?
Materials and methods
The field study was carried out in the six Sherpa communities of Chenthang Township from September 2019 to August 2020. The WEPs and related local knowledge were collected by semi-structured interview and direct observation. And the field works were performed with the assistance of local guides. During the field survey, we collected plant specimens based on the principle of one plant with one vernacular name. In this study, we used use-report (UR) and cultural importance index (CI) to evaluate the comprehensive utilization value of WEPs in the daily diet of Sherpa people.
Results
We interviewed 78 people individually who provided us with 1,199 use-reports. In total, we collected 84 WEPs belonging to 62 genera in 40 families. These species were identified into 78 ethno-species by local people, and the vernacular name of each ethno-species was recorded. These use-reports were classified into 6 use-categories. All of these plants were native wild plants. In these plants, Arisaema utile, Sorbus cuspidat and Elaeagnus umbellate have been introduced into home gardens by local people. According to the description of the Sherpa people, we drew a collecting calendar of WEPs. The Sherpa collect WEPs almost throughout the year, except for January and February.
Conclusion
WEPs have made a huge contribution to the Sherpa dietary in supplementing Carbohydrate, nutrition, and healthcare during the seasonal food shortage. In general, the diversity and products and services of WEPs based on local knowledge enhance the resistance and resilience of local food supply system to treat food shortage which might be the answer to why the locals choose these plants.
Keywords
Wild edible plants, Local knowledge, Seasonal food shortage, Sherpa, Chenthang Town, Qomolangma
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Posted 19 Feb, 2021
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Reviewer #2 agreed
On 22 Feb, 2021
Review #? received
Received 15 Feb, 2021
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Invitations sent on 15 Feb, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 15 Feb, 2021
Editor assigned
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Submission checks complete
On 14 Feb, 2021
Editor invited
On 14 Feb, 2021
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This preprint is under consideration at Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research Article
Being Blessed by Qomolangma: The Diversity and Local Knowledge of Wild Edible Plants Used by Chenthang Sherpa People to Treat Seasonal Food Shortage
Yuhua Wang
Kunming Institute of Botany Chinese Academy of Sciences
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3138-1312
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 19 Feb, 2021
No community comments so far
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 22 Feb, 2021
Review #? received
Received 15 Feb, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 15 Feb, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 15 Feb, 2021
Editor assigned
On 14 Feb, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 14 Feb, 2021
Editor invited
On 14 Feb, 2021
First submitted
On 04 Feb, 2021
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background
Wild edible plants (WEPs), which are identified as non-cultivated and non-domesticated plants for food. WEPs provided food, nutrition, herbs and other plant products for people in underdeveloped areas, such as the Everest region, to maintain their daily lives. Chenthang Town is the only Sherpa ethnic township in China. The core purpose of this research is to investigate, collect, and record the WEPs and related local knowledge and functions in the Sherpa community. Looking forward to answering the ultimate question, why did Sherpa people choose these plants?
Materials and methods
The field study was carried out in the six Sherpa communities of Chenthang Township from September 2019 to August 2020. The WEPs and related local knowledge were collected by semi-structured interview and direct observation. And the field works were performed with the assistance of local guides. During the field survey, we collected plant specimens based on the principle of one plant with one vernacular name. In this study, we used use-report (UR) and cultural importance index (CI) to evaluate the comprehensive utilization value of WEPs in the daily diet of Sherpa people.
Results
We interviewed 78 people individually who provided us with 1,199 use-reports. In total, we collected 84 WEPs belonging to 62 genera in 40 families. These species were identified into 78 ethno-species by local people, and the vernacular name of each ethno-species was recorded. These use-reports were classified into 6 use-categories. All of these plants were native wild plants. In these plants, Arisaema utile, Sorbus cuspidat and Elaeagnus umbellate have been introduced into home gardens by local people. According to the description of the Sherpa people, we drew a collecting calendar of WEPs. The Sherpa collect WEPs almost throughout the year, except for January and February.
Conclusion
WEPs have made a huge contribution to the Sherpa dietary in supplementing Carbohydrate, nutrition, and healthcare during the seasonal food shortage. In general, the diversity and products and services of WEPs based on local knowledge enhance the resistance and resilience of local food supply system to treat food shortage which might be the answer to why the locals choose these plants.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3