Ethnobotany of Food Trees By The Dayak Meratus Tribe, South Kalimantan

Abstract

Ethnobotany of trees by the Dayak Meratus tribe is important to know because it is closely related to culture for subsistence and food development. This research aimed to determine the utilization of plant trees by Dayak Meratus tribe fulfill the requirements of society and to know local wisdom in the use of food trees. Observation and field research was made using a continous transect method with a combination of paths and terraced lines taken from the forest edge up into inside the forest with the distance ± 1 km. Identification of food trees was done by LIPI Bogor. Semi-structural interviews by filling the questionnaire and respondents determination were used purposive sampling methods. The results identified 23 species, of food trees dominated by fruit (75%). Based on questionnaire, 85.41% of fruit parts utilized by community from the total of 48 species, followed by stem parts (10.41%). Moreover, local wisdom of the Dayak Meratus tribe is planting and maintaining food trees which in the backyard and or inside forest.