An ethnobotanical insight into the healing traditions as strategies for forest conservation of indigenous ethnic communities in the West Sikkim district of the Sikkim Himalayas, India

Indigenous communities in West Sikkim, home to the UNESCO-listed Khangchendzonga National Park, rely on a rich repository of 70 medicinal plant species for treating 31 health conditions. Sacred groves, culturally protected forest patches, play a pivotal role in conserving these plants while reinforcing community-led biodiversity stewardship. The study, conducted through interviews with 218 informants, revealed that herbs dominate traditional remedies, with roots being the most frequently used plant part and decoction the preferred preparation method. Notably, Cordyceps sinensis showed the highest use value (0.96) and Relative Frequency of Citation (1), highlighting its significance in local remedies. The research underscores the importance of preserving traditional medicine and conservation practices like sacred groves to protect cultural heritage and advance future drug discovery.

Chhetri, R., Bhutia, L. T., & Bose, B. (2025). An ethnobotanical insight into the healing traditions as strategies for forest conservation of indigenous ethnic communities in the West Sikkim district of the Sikkim Himalayas, India. Trees, Forests and People, 22, 101058. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2025.101058