Perception of Local Communities Towards Conservation of Traditional Medicinal Plants in Karongi District, Rwanda
Abstract
Traditional medicinal plants played an important role in Rwanda’s health, environmental, and cultural systems. This study assessed the perception of local communities towards the conservation of traditional medicinal plants in the Karongi District, specifically in the Bwishyura and Ruganda Sectors. Using a cross-sectional descriptive method, data were collected (analyzed with SPSS) from 398 participants through structured questionnaires, but field observations were also used. The study identified over 130 species of traditional medicinal plants, where Tetradenia riparia is the most commonly used by 86.68% of respondents. A significant majority (85.93%) were aware of Traditional medicinal plants, and 45.48% reported that they frequently use them. Additionally, 55.78% of participants strongly agreed that traditional medicinal plants are important in Rwanda’s healthcare system. The most common uses of traditional medicinal plants were for treating digestive problems (66.83%) and skin diseases (61.56%). Most respondents (74.62%) reported that they obtain them from natural vegetation such as forests and wetlands, while 51.76% attain them from home gardens. However, 82.66% of participants think that access to traditional medicinal plants has decreased. The main reasons cited were urbanization (68.34%), agricultural expansion (58.04%), and deforestation (46.26%). Participants show that the most preferred conservation practices are allowing plants to regenerate (55.78%), and replanting after harvesting (49.25%). 21.61% reported the absence of specific conservation measures. Key challenges identified were a lack of knowledge of conservation methods (74.62%) and knowledge of traditional medicinal plants (69.10%), followed by government restrictions and limited access to land. The study concludes that enhancing community awareness through workshops and promoting intergenerational knowledge transfer can strengthen the conservation and sustainable use of traditional medicinal plants in Rwanda.
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