Stem Barks and Roots Extravitism in Ekiti State Nigeria: Need for Conservation as a Sustainable Innovation in Healthcare Management in Rural Areas

Abstract

Abstract: A combination of field surveys and direct observation was used to identify botanicals whose stems and/or roots were extracted for healthcare purposes in the rural communities of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Diverse number of species was identified as being used for health care by respondents in the study area. The respondents’ consensus factor which specifies the agreement degree of the respondents revealed that their preference for healthcare maintenance was skewed towards the use of botanicals rather than the orthodox drugs. Respondents’ fidelity level was determined and the results obtained revealed that the botanicals were perceived as safe, cheap, readily available with little or no side effects. Considerable proportions of these botanicals were not cultivated and their collection pattern was mostly annihilative and unsustainable. Thus they were mostly rare on the abundance scale used in this study. Most of the uncultivated species were indigenous tree species that has forest as their primary source. With increasing and unprecedented deforestation rate in the study area, there is the need for conservation of these species. Keywords: