Abstract:
Background: Wild edible plants are of crucial importance in all parts of the world in supporting global food basket
(about one billion people) on a daily basis. They are means of survival for rural communities, especially during times
of drought, famine, shocks and risks. This study assessed wild edible plants, uses, management practices and their
threats in Quara district. It further investigates the implication of wild edible plants utilization for forest management.
Methods: Structured and semi-structured questionnaire interview, focus group discussion, rapid market survey and
informants guided filed walks were used to collect data in three purposively selected administrative Kebeles. A total of
ninety-four randomly selected sample households were interviewed for data collection. Both quantitative and qualitative
data analyses were made. Descriptive and regression analysis were made to analyze the data using SPSS version
16.0.
Results: The area harbors a total of 36 wild edible plants. In addition to food values, these plants provide diverse
benefits to the local community including income, fuel wood, fencing, construction, medicine and fodder. Adansonia
digitata L., Ziziphus spina-christi Willd, Ximenia Americana L., Tamarindus indica L. and Balanites aegyptiaca L. were highly
cited species by respondents. WEPs were threatened by anthropogenic factors including fire, agricultural expansion,
deforestation, free grazing, fuel wood and construction.
Conclusions: Given the number of WEPs resource base, wise utilization and further commercialization of them could
support local livelihoods while creating incentive for the management of forests. In addition, value addition could
help to link the producers in and around the natural forests to the local, regional and international markets. Doing
so will improve the incomes from the WEPs and creates further incentive for domestication. Controlling outsiders/
nomads and designing participatory forest management will bring wise utilization of the resource.
