Cross-cultural comparison of plant use knowledge in Baitadi and Darchula districts, Nepal Himalaya

This study seeks to better understand the human-nature interface and to measure the variability of
plant use knowledge among cultures, through inter- and intracultural analyses. We compared plant collection, use,
and management of two culturally distinct groups (Baitadi and Darchula) of the Nepal Himalaya. They inhabit
different physiographic regions, yet share the same ecological landscape, environmental resources, and livelihood
challenges. We hypothesized that the elderly, native, and traditional healers living in remote and rural places possess
more diverse and detailed knowledge of plant use and conservation than young, non-native, and non-healers.