Intergenerational Differences in Ethnobotanical Information: A Case Study from Dolakha District, Nepal

The younger generation's increasing disconnection from their cultural roots and traditional practices has led to a decline in the transmission of valuable ethnobotanical knowledge. This study was carried out in Dolakha District to see if there are significant differences in number of plants known, identifying number of plants, number of known plants for ailments treated and number of plant species whose parts to be collected known across different generations: Young generation (15-30 years), mid-generation (31-50 years), Older generation (>50 years). Also, factors (Education, gender, distance from forest and age) influencing ethnobotanical knowledge were examined. Purposive sampling was used and key informants (n=8) were interviewed to list and document plants, their part used and ailment treated in the study area. In total, 72 plant species were documented. Documentation from key informants served as a basis for comparing knowledge across generations. Stratified sampling was carried out. The population was divided into 3 groups: Younger generation (n=40), Mid- generation (n=40) and Older generation (n=40). ANOVA test was applied. Alternative hypothesis was accepted indicating significant differences in number of plants known, identifying number of plants, number of known plants for ailments. In average, young generation can identify 19.825 fewer plants than the middle generation and 29.825 fewer plants than Old generation. In average, Number of Plants Whose Parts to Be Collected Known by young generation was 18.400 lesser than Middle generation and 29.500 lesser than Old generation. The average Number of Plants Known for Medicinal Use by Young generation was 20.400 less than that of middle generation and 30.775 lesser than Old generation. The difference in knowledge across generations shows that if the traditional medicinal knowledge tends to decrease over generations in such a way, there is high threat in loss of such knowledge from entire community. This discrepancy indicated a disconnection of younger generation from traditional ethnobotanical knowledge. The reliance on oral traditions fully without documentation results risk of losing such invaluable ethnobotanical knowledge as older generations pass away.