| Abstract: |
| Rural communities normally depend on nearby forests for local fruits, resin, rattan, leather and plants of medicinal value. In West Kalimantan, Indonesia, demand for local medicinal plants has increased since 1999 (Pontianak Post, 2002). Medicinal plants are harvested from natural forests, upland rice fields, rubber gardens and home gardens. As natural forests gradually disappear from the landscape, managed gardens and agroforests become the major source of medicinal plants. An earlier inventory recorded 137 plant species of medicinal value (Rosnani, 1996). The remains high. A recently conducted study of naturally regenerating medicinal plants under improved in Rubber Agroforestry Systems (RAS), currently promoted by ICRAF and partners, highlights their potential role in conservation of diversity of medicinal value. The study was conducted in four villages (Engkayuk, Senunuk, Embaong and Pana) of Sanggau District, West Kalimantan in Indonesia in May-June 2005. A detailed survey of naturally growing plant species of medical value was conducted in farmers rubber agroforests (188 plots), established with ICRAF promoted technology. Key informants in the study villages were consulted for their knowledge of these plant species. A total of 76 species of seedlings and ground vegetation that have medical value were recoded during the survey; while 13 species at sapling stage were counted. These plants are used in treatment of human health problems such as malaria, fever, muscle stiffness, external wound and ulceration. The highest number of medicinal plants was found in Pana village - 37 species of seedlings and ground vegetation and 8 species of sapling size. In Senunuk village, the regrowth vegetation under RAS-1 are dominated by Imperata cylindrica, Vitex pinnata and others herbs. The diversity of medicinal plant under rubber agroforestry system is influenced by previous vegetation, vegetation richness in surrounding areas, age of plot and the management intensity plot. Data analysis showed that Embaong village has the highest density of medicinal plants - 36295 plants/ha (from 19 species), and this was independent of the number of species in the plot. Although plant species abundance was highest in Pana village (37 species), the plant density was slightly lower (20917 plants/ha). |
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