TY -JOUR
AU -Faten Zubair Filimban
AU -Mohammed Darwish
AU -Muhammad Waheed
AU -Rainer W. Bussmann
AU -Shiekh Marifatul Haq
TI -Traditional ecological knowledge of wild plant usage in the arid landscapes of Southwestern Saudi Arabia: Implications for biodiversity conservation
PY -2026
DA -2026-09-07
JO -Taiwania
VL -71
IS -4
SP -680
EP -694
UR -https://taiwania.ntu.edu.tw/abstract/2220
AB -Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) offers place-based insights into plant use, resource dynamics, and biodiversity in arid landscapes. Despite long-standing community reliance on wild plants in Saudi Arabia, integrated assessments linking TEK with ecological status and conservation priorities remain limited. This study documents traditional knowledge of wild plant use and evaluates its implications for sustainable management in a desert landscape of southwestern Saudi Arabia. Ethnobotanical data were collected from 37 informants using snowball sampling and semi-structured interviews to record plant uses, parts utilized, growth forms, and perceived ecological status. Local communities reported multiple ethnobotanical applications, primarily for medicine, food, fragrance, herbal tea, and fodder. Apocynaceae and Fabaceae were the most frequently cited families, leaves were the dominant plant part used, and herbaceous perennials were the prevailing growth form. Medicinal uses mainly targeted gastrointestinal disorders, followed by dermatological, urinogenital, and febrile conditions. <i>Commiphora gileadensis</i> (UV = 0.49) and <i>Rumex vesicarius</i> (UV = 0.46) were the most culturally valued species. Although most taxa were considered ecologically stable, <i>Commiphora gileadensis</i> and <i>Commiphora kataf</i> were identified as threatened. Integrating TEK with ecological assessment identified multifunctional native species critical for local livelihoods and conservation planning. The findings emphasize prioritizing culturally important plants in restoration initiatives and demonstrate how TEK can strengthen biodiversity management, promote sustainable use, and guide re-vegetation strategies in dryland ecosystems.
DO -10.6165/tai.2026.71.680