Authors : Jewar Safeno Jara
DOI : 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9818341/v1
Volume : 0
Issue : 2026
Year : 2026
Page No : 25
Abstract Background Wild edible plants (WEPs) contribute significantly to dietary diversity, food security, and cultural identity in rural Ethiopia, yet they remain under-documented and insufficiently integrated into national food security and conservation policies. This study documents WEP diversity and associated Oromo traditional ecological knowledge in Aseko District, West Arsi Zone, southeastern Ethiopia. Methods Ethnobotanical data were collected from 206 informants (35 key informants and 171 general informants) across six kebeles representing lowland, midland, and highland agroecological zones. Data collection methods included semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, guided field walks, and participant observation. Species were taxonomically verified using Plants of the World Online (POWO) and World Flora Online (WFO) following APG IV classification. Descriptive statistics and qualitative thematic analyses were employed to assess use categories, preparation practices, indigenous safety knowledge, knowledge transmission, and local conservation perceptions. Results A total of 70 WEP species belonging to 58 genera and 32 families were documented. Fabaceae (12.9%, n = 9) and Malvaceae (7.1%, n = 5) were the most represented families. Trees (45.7%) and shrubs (34.3%) together accounted for 80.0% of the recorded species. Fruits (42.9%, n = 30) and famine-reserve foods (20.0%, n = 14) constituted the dominant use categories. Taxonomic verification confirmed 74.3% (n = 52) of species according to current nomenclatural standards, whereas 22.9% (n = 16) required specific traditional preparation methods to reduce potential toxicity. Indigenous safety practices—including ripeness assessment, boiling, roasting, and fermentation—demonstrated culturally developed risk-management strategies. Agricultural expansion (67.3%, n = 115) and fuelwood extraction (52.6%, n = 90) were identified as the most severe perceived threats to WEP resources. Older informants (> 50 years) reported significantly more species (mean ± SD: 4.8 ± 2.9) than younger cohorts (< 35 years: 2.1 ± 1.4), indicating progressive intergenerational erosion of traditional ecological knowledge. Conclusions Wild edible plants in Aseko District remain integral components of local food systems, supporting nutrition, livelihood resilience, and cultural continuity. Strengthening the protection of indigenous ecological knowledge and integrating community-based conservation and traditional safety practices into food security and biodiversity policies are essential for sustaining resilient livelihoods under changing environmental conditions.