Traditional botanical knowledge in goa: echoes from the past, relevance for the future

Traditional Botanical Knowledge (TBK) represents the deep, time-tested relationship between communities and the natural world, especially through the use of plants for health, rituals, and daily living. This study explores TBK in Goa by documenting medicinal, ritual, and culinary plant use through field surveys, interviews, and community-based questionnaires. A total of 50 medicinal plant species from 29 families and 47 genera were recorded, along with 15 ritual plants and 15 culinary species. The study highlights how plants like Tulsi, Neem and Aloe vera continue to play vital roles in healing and cultural practices. Insights from traditional healers and elders revealed a holistic view of health, where food, herbs, and spiritual practices are closely linked. However, concerns were raised about the declining transmission of this knowledge due to modernization and changing lifestyles. The findings suggest that TBK remains relevant for modern health, environmental sustainability, and cultural identity, and call for its preservation through education, documentation, and integration into modern science and policy frameworks.