FOREST RESOURCES, ETHNOMEDICINE, AND THE VITAL ROLE OF TRIBAL WOMEN OF AUSGRAM, BURDWAN DISTRICT: A STUDY OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

Forests, as renewable natural capital, are integral to the environmental resource-based economy, contributing significantly to biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and the provision of raw materials. Traditional values associated with forests have gained renewed importance in the modern era, particularly in ethnomedicine. This study explores the crucial role of tribal women as custodians of indigenous knowledge, focusing on their contributions to healthcare through the sustainable use of medicinal plants. Tribal women preserve and transmit ethnobotanical knowledge, preparing remedies from various plant parts to treat ailments. Despite their indispensable contributions, challenges such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the encroachment of modern medicine threaten this heritage.

The paper examines the ethnomedicinal practices of tribal communities, particularly in the Burdwan region, which is rich in both plant biodiversity and ethnic diversity. It highlights the use of medicinal plants in treating women-specific diseases, the preparation and dosage of traditional medicines, and the cultural significance of forest preservation. Furthermore, it addresses the erosion of traditional knowledge due to forest resource depletion and sociocultural changes. This study underscores the need to document and integrate ethnomedicinal practices into contemporary healthcare while promoting the sustainable utilization of forest resources.