Ethnobotanical study of coastal plants at Neuheun Village, Mesjid Raya District, Aceh Besar Regency

Abstract Neuheun Village, located in the coastal area of Aceh Besar Regency, preserves the local wisdom of plant utilization. The village has substantial natural resources and is characterized by a notable diversity of coastal vegetation. This study aimed to inventory the type, method of processing, and use of coastal plants by the Neuheun community in their daily lives. The research method was Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). Respondents were selected by purposive sampling, which consisted of 50 people. The research result showed that the local community utilized 16 coastal plant species across 13 different families. The coastal plant families most frequently utilized by the community were Asteraceae , Aracaceae , and Acanthaceae , each with two species. Other families had only one species each. Local communities utilized coastal plants for a range of purposes, including medicinal use (38%), food (16%), construction material (13%), tool and handicraft (10%), firewood and charcoal (8%), and additional uses such as animal feed, biopesticide, and wrapper (5%). This study holds significant potential to enhance the preservation of cultural heritage and biodiversity, thereby reinforcing cultural identity and continuity.