Methods and Approaches in Ethnobotany: Concepts, Practices and Prospects

The present book contains twenty two papers from editors as well as other authors, which have made significant contributions in the field of Ethnobotany. The emphasis in this book is on concept, definition, methodologies in field work, recent techniques, approaches, dimensions, applications and future prospects of this subject and in this respect, the book is significantly different from some half a dozen recent compilations having mostly inventories, which are of plants or of small relations/ethnic groups. Papers like Five Ws of ethnobotany; Need-based and Culture-based Man-plant relationships; etymology and utility of local plant names; objective ethnobotany; protection of traditional knowledge and benefit sharing arrangements etc. provide a glimpse of various dimensions of this dynamic subject which create a strong foundation for a scholar in this field. A brief account for field based study and some possible topics for dissertation and research work is also given. This book is useful for undergraduates and postgraduate students and also provides guidance to research scholars wanting to pursue studies in this interdisciplinary subject of ethnobotany.