Informatics Publishing Limited

Raghunath Dhan ¹, Saugata Basu ², Biplob Kumar Modak ³

Affiliations
1 Agricultural Technology Management Agency, Dept. of Agriculture, Bagmundi, WB, IN
2 Dept. of Biology, Uttarpara Govt. High School, Uttarpara, Hooghly, West Bengal, IN
3 Dept. of Zoology, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia, WB, Pin:723104, IN

Abstract

The Purulia district of West Bengal, popularly known as Junglemahal, is endowed with rich ethnic culture as well as immense biological diversity. The district is mostly inhabited by the poorest of the poor rural and tribal communities and they constitute about 20% of the total district population. They still prefer to live in the remote hilly jungles or at their base. Biodiversity offers great subsistence value to these extremely poor rural and tribal communities. They have the choice to exploit a wide range of species in different ways rather than just a limited number of species exploited by the urban citizen. However, some of the NTFPs of Purulia district have vast commercial importance. Consequently, due to market pressure, unsustainable exploitation of these NTFPs have been taken place making some of the species vulnerable to extinction in the wild. The present communication intends to document the present status of NTFPs of the Bagmundi Block of Purulia district. The study reveals that, forest area of Bagmundi Block has more than two hundred non timber forest Products (NTFPs.), of which forty seven commonly traded forest products have been studied. Among these NTFPs ten species are vulnerable and six are endangered as per IUCN red list. A comparison between present status of NTFPs with the last decade is also been compiled in the present communication.

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Partha Gorai ¹, Raghunath Dhan ¹, Kailash Bauri ¹, Sanjib Gorain ¹, Biplob Kumar Modak ²

Affiliations
1 Panjania J.D.R. High School, P.O. Bagalia, Dist:Purulia, West Bengal, IN
2 Sidho Kanho Birsha University, P.O. Sainik School, Dist:Purulia, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Traditional or folk medicine is still preponderating among the rural people for primary health-care. In India tribal medicine and written health traditions, such as, Ayurveda, Uninani, Siddha are recommend to use animal or animal products to treat various disease condition. Nearly 15%-20% Ayurvedic medicines are animal based and in the Unani system almost 200 drugs are derived from animals. Although in tribal medicine, zootherapeutic practices is very common but never commercialized. The district Purulia of West Bengal is endowed with rich ethnic culture as well as immense biological diversity. The present study intends to document various ethnozoological practices prevailing in the district. During the field survey, 38 medicine-men were interviewed. This communication documented 32 animal species for ethno medicinal uses against various disease conditions of tribal. Informant concensus factor, fidelity level and use value are also analysed. Folklore and traditional knowledge are in the process of rapid degeneration due to disruption of forest covers and changes in the socio-economic pattern. So, there is an urgent need to document the available information.

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