Inventory of Zingiberaceae family endemic to Kalimantan with medicinal uses from global database

Abstract

Kalimantan, one of Indonesia's islands, is home to remarkable biodiversity and cultural wealth, as evident in the variety of plant species and the diverse local communities. However, this richness is under threat due toland conversion, overexploitation, and a lack of knowledge among the younger generation about the uses of these plants. As a result, conservation efforts are crucial. Global databases play a key role in conservation planning by providing essential information on species taxonomy, conservation status, and their ethnobotanical and economic uses, helping guide conservation actions. The Zingiberaceae family, commonly used in Kalimantan, can be studied through global databases. This plant family is widely used for medicinal purposes. A recent inventory study focused on the medicinal plants from the Zingiberaceae family endemic to Kalimantan. The research aimed to gather data from global databases on endemic species, their medicinal records, and additional information such as conservation status and sustainable use. The results revealed that 230 species of Zingiberaceae are endemic to Kalimantan, with the top five genera being Boesenbergia, Etlingera, Zingiber, Scaphochlamys, and Alpinia. Furthermore, only four of the 230 species have medicinal records, 37 have DNA barcoding data, 66% have been assessed by IUCN Redlist, and just 3% are conserved ex situ nationally. These findings serve as a foundation for future conservation and sustainable use studies, potentially benefiting national and global efforts.