| dc.description.abstract | Food insecurity and biodiversity loss are some of the global challenges articulated in the Sustainable Development Goals. In Uganda, the North Eastern region is arguably the most food insecure and less botanically surveyed regions in the country. In this study, I set out to: (1) establish an inventory and document Traditional Knowledge (TK) of wild edible plant (WEP) species collected from eight central forest reserves (CFRs), (ii) establish the nutritional value of selected WEPs, (iii) examine the population structure of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile, Tamarindus indica L. and Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn., and (iv) examine the diversity, similarity and complementarity of the CFRs. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 240 respondents selected using systematic simple sampling technique, eight focus group discussions held, and field excursions were used to collect ethnobotanical data. The nutritional parameters (proximate, ascorbic acid and β-Carotene) were determined in triplicate. The population structure of B. aegyptiaca, T. indica and V. paradoxa was assessed within 10 x 1000 m belt transects while nested quadrats were used to assess plant species richness. One-way Analysis of Variance was used to analyze the means of nutritional parameters. Population structure was illustrated using histograms with diameter classes of 0-5 cm. Species diversity was analyzed using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H/) and plant species presence-absence data used to conduct cluster analysis. The study established that 100 WEPs species in 47 families are eaten due to food scarcity, spicing staple food, nutri-medicinal value, cultural practice and delicacy. Additionally, some of the proximate composition, ascorbic acid and β-Carotene values of Dioscorea sp., Leptadenia hastata (Schumach. & Thonn.) Decne, Maerua angolensis D.C., Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby and Vigna kirkii (Baker) J.B. Gillett) can meet the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) and Adequate Intakes (AI) for certain life stages and groups. The density of B. aegyptiaca, T. indica and V. paradoxa is sparsely populated with their population histograms showing that T. indica has a positive regeneration in all the CFRs; V. paradoxa has a positive regeneration only in Onyurut CFR, and B. aegyptiaca has poor regeneration in all the CFRs. The study recorded 417 plant species in 76 families in all the CFRs with a high diversity (H’ >4.0) and equitability indices (>4.8) in each CFR. The CFRs formed four clusters with four CFRs (Bululu hills, Mount Moroto, Onyurut and Ogera hills) accounting for almost 90 percent of the plant 417 plant taxa. The CFRs harbour some plant taxa of national and global conservation importance such as Entandrophragma cylindricum (Sprague) Sprague and Albizia ferruginea (Guill. & Perr.) Benth. The study has documented WEP species TK in the CFRs of NE Uganda, and showed that some could contribute to food and nutrition security. The study has also established sparse population densities and variable regeneration trends of B. aegyptiaca, T. indica and V. paradoxa in the CFRs of NU Uganda. T. indica and V. paradoxa (Onyurut CFR) how reverse J curves which are indicative of healthy regeneration. Finally, the study has established high diversity of plant taxa, plant taxa of national and international importance, and complementarity in the CFRs of North Eastern Uganda. There is need to investigate the causative agents of the reported negative effects accruing from eating some WEPs, experiment the use of seeds, and vegetative materials to raise planting material for target WEP species and scale up value addition and commercialisation of products from some WEP species such as V. paradoxa and T. indica and undertake feasibility studies on the less exploited species such as wine making from Diopyros scabra. In addition, there is also need examine the micronutrients of global public health significance, such as iron and zinc, conduct national conservation assessments on the WEPs, develop species monitoring plans for multi-purpose species such as B. aegyptiaca, T. indica and V. paradoxa strengthen the protection of the CFRs. | en_US |
