Perceptions of traditional ecological and ethnobotanical knowledge and Nepenthes conservation among forest-edge communities in Central Kalimantan: An exploratory study

Abstract

Background: Traditional ecological knowledge is vulnerable to socio-environmental shifts. This exploratory study investigated community perceptions of traditional uses, intergenerational knowledge transmission, and the conservation of pitcher plants (Nepenthes spp., locally known as sempeng or sumpeng) among a purposive sample of forest-edge residents on the periphery of KHDTK Mungku Baru in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Methods: A socio-ecological survey utilizing semi-structured interviews was conducted with 26 local informants. Descriptive qualitative approaches evaluated informant responses across sociodemographic groups.

Results: Overall, Informants recognized Nepenthes pitchers as part of local healthcare practices, primarily as a traditional remedy for respiratory complaints like coughs and asthma. Respondents held mixed perceptions of intergenerational transfer, with half noting that youth still retain plant knowledge, whereas others observed that oral transmission within families appears to be limited among younger residents or remained uncertain. Conversely, forest-edge informants expressed favorable perceptions of preserving Nepenthes habitats in peat-swamp and heath forest ecosystems, driven by personal observations of ecological threats such as land conversion and forest fires.

Conclusions: Within this exploratory sample, local perceptions reveal a dual trend: there are informant-perceived limitations in intergenerational knowledge transmission among youth, while willingness to support habitat conservation remains strong. Incorporating these community perspectives into local management plans can support participatory conservation of Nepenthes habitats.

Keywords: Biocultural perception; Forest-edge communities; Intergenerational transmission; Nepenthes; Socio-ecology