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Yongping Yang
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ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0327-2664
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Background: Most regions of Myanmar fall within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot and are threatened of biodiversity loss. Development of a comprehensive framework for sustainable development is crucial. Figs are ecological keystone species within these regions and are also important for their traditional spiritual, food and health uses, which often have accompanying conservation practices. These may offer clues to help guide the development of national policies for sustainable development. In this study we showcase the rich ethnobotanical knowledge as well as the variety of collection and conservation practices of figs among five ethnic groups in Southern Shan State.
Methods: We performed both key informant and semi-structured interviews with 114 informants from five ethnic groups. Their uses for figs were categorized according to local practices and recipes. Informants were asked about trends in conservation status over the past 10 years and any conservation related customs and practices. Data were analyzed quantitatively with common quantitative ethnobotany indices, the use report (UR) and use value (UV).
Results: Informants reported the uses of eight fig species (Ficus auricularta，F. concinna, F. geniculata，F. hispida, F. racemosa, F. religiosa，F. semicordata, and F. virens). F. geniculata and F. virens were most useful (UR = 228) and were used by all five ethnic groups, corresponding to a high use value (UV = 2). Treatments for 16 diseases were reported from seven species. Household consumption, economic, and sacred uses were accompanied by sustainable practices of harvest and protection. Traditional taboos, in situ and ex situ conservation were practiced especially for highly demanded species (F. geniculata and F. virens), and the sacred fig F. religiosa.
Conclusion: Findings suggest that figs are useful for food (all informants) and medicine (13.16% of the informants) in the study area. Traditional taboos, in situ and ex situ conservation practices help to maintain sustainable utilization of locally important figs. This is an early contribution to the traditional knowledge of edible figs. Although similar uses have been reported in neighboring countries for seven of the fig species, the ethnobotanical use of F. concinna is novel.
Keywords
Ficus, Ethnobotany, Traditional Knowledge, Food, Medicine, Conservation, Southern Shan State
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.
Version 3
Posted 29 Aug, 2020
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 26 Aug, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 26 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 25 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 25 Aug, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 22 Aug, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor Revision
On 22 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 18 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 04 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 30 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 30 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 30 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 29 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 29 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 18 Jun, 2020
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 18 Jun, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 14 Jun, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 23 May, 2020
Editor assigned
On 19 May, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 19 May, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 19 May, 2020
First submitted
On 18 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 18 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 18 May, 2020
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Subject Areas
Translational Medicine
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A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
See the published version of this preprint at Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.
This is a preprint, 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
Yongping Yang
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0327-2664
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: Published
View the published article at Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.
Version 3
Posted 29 Aug, 2020
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 26 Aug, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 26 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 25 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 25 Aug, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 22 Aug, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor Revision
On 22 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 18 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 04 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 30 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 30 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 30 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 29 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 29 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 18 Jun, 2020
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 18 Jun, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 14 Jun, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 23 May, 2020
Editor assigned
On 19 May, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 19 May, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 19 May, 2020
First submitted
On 18 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 18 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 18 May, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Translational Medicine
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.
Background: Most regions of Myanmar fall within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot and are threatened of biodiversity loss. Development of a comprehensive framework for sustainable development is crucial. Figs are ecological keystone species within these regions and are also important for their traditional spiritual, food and health uses, which often have accompanying conservation practices. These may offer clues to help guide the development of national policies for sustainable development. In this study we showcase the rich ethnobotanical knowledge as well as the variety of collection and conservation practices of figs among five ethnic groups in Southern Shan State.
Methods: We performed both key informant and semi-structured interviews with 114 informants from five ethnic groups. Their uses for figs were categorized according to local practices and recipes. Informants were asked about trends in conservation status over the past 10 years and any conservation related customs and practices. Data were analyzed quantitatively with common quantitative ethnobotany indices, the use report (UR) and use value (UV).
Results: Informants reported the uses of eight fig species (Ficus auricularta，F. concinna, F. geniculata，F. hispida, F. racemosa, F. religiosa，F. semicordata, and F. virens). F. geniculata and F. virens were most useful (UR = 228) and were used by all five ethnic groups, corresponding to a high use value (UV = 2). Treatments for 16 diseases were reported from seven species. Household consumption, economic, and sacred uses were accompanied by sustainable practices of harvest and protection. Traditional taboos, in situ and ex situ conservation were practiced especially for highly demanded species (F. geniculata and F. virens), and the sacred fig F. religiosa.
Conclusion: Findings suggest that figs are useful for food (all informants) and medicine (13.16% of the informants) in the study area. Traditional taboos, in situ and ex situ conservation practices help to maintain sustainable utilization of locally important figs. This is an early contribution to the traditional knowledge of edible figs. Although similar uses have been reported in neighboring countries for seven of the fig species, the ethnobotanical use of F. concinna is novel.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
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