Traditional Knowledge System Based GIS Mapping of Antimalarial Plants: Spatial Distribution Analysis

Abstract

The native communities have been using their unique traditional knowledge system (TKS), culture, indigenous skills and expertise since the ancient times. India has witnessed its legacy from the time of Charaka & Susruta for TKS of medicinal plants. The objective of the study is to carry out inter-disciplinary work by integrating ethno-medicinal findings with Geographical Information System (GIS) tools to develop spatio-temporal maps covering antimalarial plants prevalent in three rural districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. Two sources Flora Gorakhpurensis & Flora of Upper Gangetic Plains have been considered to evaluate all possible antimalarials prevalent in the study region and are cross validated with research papers and journals. GPS coordinates were recorded for marked locations and under GIS environment maps of antimalarials are generated to highlight geographical distribution of such plants. Further, these are analysed with respect to various natural plant habitats.