Identifying the traditional relationship between local communities and plant values of Zagros region (Case study: Nourabad Mamasani, Fars Province)

One of the first and deepest human relationships with the environment was the use of medicinal values of plants to meet their needs. The Zagros forests are the cradle of ancient Iranian civilizations and encompass many local communities, each comprising precious treasures of traditional herbal science, which is one of the main topics in the science of ethnobotany. In this study, this knowledge was studied in a common-law forest area of Pireshkaft in Nourabad Mamasani city, Fars province. The data were collected by snowball sampling method, using key informants and purposive sampling. An attempt was made to use a combination of interview methods, direct observation, and participatory observation. Data were analyzed using quantitative indicators of Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), use value (UV), and Cultural Importance Index (CI). According to the results, 38 medicinal plant species were identified in the region, most of which (16%) belong to Asteraceae family, and about half of them (47%) belong to the life form of perennial herbaceous plants. Leaves and flowers had the most medicinal use with 28% and 18% of the total proportion, respectively. Also, the most traditional preparation methods were edible (36%) and infusion and herbal tea (30%). In terms of RFC index, 11 species (including 5 woody species) had the highest value. The highest value of UV index (0.83) was related to Datura innoxia and in terms of CI index, Peganum harmala, Quercus brantii, Pistacia khinjuk and Achillea millefolium species had the highest values. The results of this study showed the richness of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in the study area, which can be useful in formulating this knowledge if replicated in other Zagros forest areas.