MEDICINAL PLANT ECOLOGY, KNOWLEDGE AND CONSERVATION IN KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA

This study documents the abundance, distribution and knowledge of medi cinal plant species in a Ransa Dayak village and adjoining forest in W est Kalimantan, Indonesia. Over 250 medicinal plant species from 165 g enera and 75 families nle utilized by the local healer. Late successio nal, primary and river bench forests contained the highest diversity o f locally-utilized medicinal species and the greatest number of specie s restricted to a single forest type for which alternative species or remedies were unavailable. Epiphytes and trees restricted to primary f orests are particularly important sources for plants used to treat unu sual ailments. A 100% survey of village residents 15 years of age and older (N = 32) revealed that people older than 25 years of age, and ol der females in particular possessed greater knowledge of medicinal pla nts and their uses than younger people and males. All residents, excep t the male healer, were more knowledgeable about medicinal plants,foun d in early successional forests than those of primary forests. Commerc ial logging and the loss of traditional knowledge through acculturatio n pose twin challenges to the persistence of traditional medicinal pla nt use in this Ransa village and throughout much of Kalimantan.