Herbal knowledge on Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast: consensus within diversity

Area of Science:

• Ethnobotany
• Medical Anthropology
• Community Health

Background:

• Understanding the distribution of medicinal plant knowledge is crucial for conservation and healthcare.
• Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast is a region with rich biodiversity and diverse ethnic groups, each with unique traditional knowledge systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine and compare medicinal plant knowledge between local communities and the scientific community in Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast.
• To estimate the distribution of ethnobotanical knowledge across the region's six distinct ethnic groups.
• To analyze the consensus and diversity in medicinal plant identification and usage.

Main Methods:

• Conducted an 809-household survey across five communities in 1990.
• Performed a ten-community botanical collection in 1991.
• Compared identified plant knowledge with existing research to establish a distribution framework.

Main Results:

• Identified 162 medicinal plants, with a few commonly recognized and most known by only one or two informants.
• Demonstrated a pattern of consensus within diversity in medicinal plant knowledge across ethnic groups.
• Highlighted significant variation in knowledge distribution among the region's six ethnic groups.

Conclusions:

• Medicinal plant knowledge on Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast exhibits a complex pattern of shared and specialized understanding.
• Methodology significantly influences the gathering, distribution, and perceived durability of ethnobotanical data.
• The proprietary nature of traditional knowledge requires careful consideration in research and application.