Ethnoecology of halophytes based on Turkmen herders’ viewpoint in northern rangelands of Golestan Province

Traditional ecological knowledge of Indigenous and local communities in classification of vegetation, habitats and other elements of rangeland ecosystems can be used in natural resources management. The current research aimed at studying the ethnoecology of halophytes in saline and alkaline plains of Turkmen Sahra using traditional knowledge of Turkmen herders. Data collection was done through field walk, semi-structured interviews and community feedback meetings with herders in Incheboron at Golestan Province and questions about the relation between halophytes and their environment were asked. Based on the result, herders referred to 38 plants with local names. According to traditional knowledge of Turkmen herders, land in saline rangelands lies between two ranges of sweet and salty, healthy and unhealthy or good and bad. Herders continued with introducing seven classes of soil naming glassy, Shor (salty), wet, Naor (small basin), hilly, red and black and they stated that specific plant species appear in each of these classes. For instance, nothing grows in the saltiest soil which is glassy soil, however, with the reduction of soil salinity level Shor lands appear where Cheratan [Halocnemum strobilaceum M.B] habitat exists. Considering traditional knowledge of Turkmen herders different plant species appear in rangeland with variation of salinity which is due to the variation of physiography, rainfall and flood. The result of current study show that local communities possess valuable and rich knowledge in describing plants and their habitats. Therefore, this knowledge can be used in rangeland and other natural lands management.