Census of NTFPs species of medicinal value

Study Extent

Data on tree species of food and medicinal importance were collected from Chimanimani (19°48'S;32°52'E), Chipinge (20°24'S;32°41'E) and Nyanga (18°13'S;32°44'E) in the Eastern Highlands, Mutorashanga (17°25'S;30°35'E)in the Great Dyke and Hwange (19°07'S;26°35'E) in the west.

Sampling

Data concerning numbers of species used for medicinal purposes, along with use categories, was compiled from representatives drawn from 17 communities. A total of 102 informants who included men, women, youths and traditional healers participated in the surveys. Of the selected communities, utilisation by men, women and youths was studied using group discussions and key informant interviews. For each hotspot area, separate groups of men and women were used. Information was given using local plant names, part(s) used, methods of preparation and how they are used. Additional data were compiled from publications, books and herbarium specimens collected from the hotspot areas.

Quality Control

Data were checked for quality using software and databases such Catalogue of Life, Flora of Zimbabwe, Excel data cleaning, ECAT name parser, OpenRefine and GEOLocate.

Method steps

1. Community meetings were held in Chimanimani, Chipinge, Nyanga, Mutorashanga and Hwange to identify species of medicinal importance. Semi-structured and key-informant interviews and group discussions were used in each community. Data on species was collected using vernacular names. Plant species used by the local communities in each study area were authenticated by botanists and taxonomists.
2. A Multi-stakeholder meeting was held to consolidate the list of species. Groups were created basing on hotspot area. In each group, prioritisation of medicinal plant species was done by ranking them basing on importance and multiple uses.
3. Review of literature was done to supplement the data gathered from community meetings.
4. Prioritisation of plant species of medicinal importance was done at a multi-stakeholder meeting.
5. The data were prepared into a checklist. Data were checked for quality using databases and software such as Catalogue of Life, Flora of Zimbabwe, Excel, OpenRefine, and GEOLocate. After quality checks, the checklist was uploaded on the GBIF website.

Zimbabwe