Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in Chilga District, Northwestern Ethiopia

The study was conducted to investigate and document medicinal plants and associated knowledge plants in Chilga district, Northwestern Ethiopia. Questionnaire survey, semi-structured interviews, ranking and transect walk techniques were employed for data collection in midland and lowland agroecologies and in natural forests, riverine forests and farmlands. One hundred one medicinal plants were used to treat 52 (41 human and 8 livestock and 3 for both) ailments. Herbs (36 %) and shrubs (30%) were the most widely used plant growth forms. About 89.8 % of remedies are prepared from ischolar_mains and leaves. Wealthier groups mentioned significant number of medicinal plants than poorest groups in Quavier Lomiye Kebele. Most medicinal plants (68.48 % in lowland and 76.3 % in midland agroecology) provide other types of uses in addition to medicinal value. However, these plants are threatened by agricultural expansion, fuel wood and construction and overgrazing. Thus, conservation of these plants and associated knowledge base is very essential.