Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Goba District Southwest Ethiopia

Ethnobotanical studies explore the relationship between humans and plants, highlighting the critical role of wild edible plants (WEPs) in food security, diets, and income in resource-limited communities. Despite their importance, wild edible plants face growing threats from anthropogenic activities, necessitating urgent documentation and conservation efforts. This study aimed to document indigenous knowledge of WEPs, their diversity, and associated threats in Goba District, Southwest Ethiopia. Ethnobotanical data were collected between February and April 2024 through semi-structured interviews, guided field observations, and group discussions involving 99 respondents, comprising 83 systematically selected general informants and 16 purposively selected key informants. The study identified 17 wild edible plant species belonging to 15 genera and 13 families, with Solanaceae being the most dominant family. Herbs were the most common growth form (47.1%), followed by shrubs (29.4%), climbers (17.6%), and trees (5.9%), with fruits (52.9%) and leaves (29.4%) being the most consumed plant parts. The direct matrix ranking analysis revealed firewood collection (45) and deforestation (44) as the predominant threats to wild edible plants, demonstrating the critical conflict between livelihood-dependent resource extraction and biodiversity conservation imperatives. These findings not only demonstrate the significant role of WEPs in supporting local livelihoods but also emphasize the necessity of implementing sustainable conservation strategies, including community-based protection measures, alternative energy solutions, and knowledge preservation initiatives, to safeguard both biological diversity and traditional ecological knowledge for future generations while informing policy development that integrates WEP conservation into broader food security frameworks.