Ethnobotanical Survey and Medicinal Plant Conservation Practices Among Tribal Communities of the Marathwada Region, Maharashtra

Traditional tribal communities possess deep-rooted botanical knowledge that contributes to primary healthcare, ecological sustainability, and biodiversity conservation. The present study explores ethnobotanical practices of tribal groups in the Marathwada region with emphasis on medicinal plant utilization, mode of preparation, plant part usage, and conservation awareness. Data was collected through structured interviews, field surveys, and herbal healers’ consultations across tribal settlements of Beed, Nanded, Hingoli, and Parbhani. A total of 68 medicinal plant species were documented, belonging to 37 families, with Fabaceae, Apocynaceae, Lamiaceae, and Asteraceae emerging as dominant families. Leaves were identified as the most commonly used plant part, followed by roots, bark, seeds, and latex. The study also recognizes indigenous conservation methods such as sacred groves (Devrai system), seasonal harvesting, selective uprooting, and natural seed dispersal protection. However, increasing deforestation, habitat destruction, urban migration, and declining intergenerational transfer of knowledge threaten ethnobotanical heritage. The paper recommends community-based conservation programs, digital documentation of tribal plant knowledge, and integration of ethnobotany into rural biodiversity policy initiatives.