Ethnobotanical Data in Forests of Zegie Peninsula and Nearby Monastries

Hypothesis of Research and Data Overview:
This dataset presents an ethnobotanical study concerning traditional ecological knowledge and the use of medicinal plants by communities in the Zegie Peninsula and nearby monastic islands of Ethiopia. The hypothesis for this research is that these communities possess a detailed traditional knowledge of plant uses, especially medicinal ones, which would vary with different demographic groups and geographical locations. Data collection entailed structured interviews with 260 informants across several sites, covering demographic profiles, plant species utilization, and traditional healing practices.

Data Collection Methodology:

Data collection was based on systematic ethnobotanical surveys from [insert collection dates]. Interviews, guided field walks, and botanical specimen collection were conducted. Collected voucher specimens were deposited with identity numbers (AW24001-AW24120) for botanical verification. The informants were chosen by purposive and snowball sampling from three main sites representing the Peninsula-Ura, Mehal Zegie, and Yiganda-and the Islands-Daga Estifanos, Kebran Gebriel, and Enton Eyesus-representative occupational groups, including monks (51.5%), coffee growers, carpenters, and other community members.
Key Findings and Data Interpretation:
These data represent a rich pharmacopoeia of 120 plant species belonging to 56 families used for medicinal purposes, and the most represented families are Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Rutaceae. Leaves are predominantly used in medication (43%), followed by roots (22%), and the most frequent route of administration is oral (58%). The data provide evidence of a sophisticated treatment protocol, ranging from common diseases such as malaria and gastrointestinal disorders to chronic diseases and spiritual illnesses. The large proportion of informants that belong to monastic institutions indicates that religious institutions are important repositories of traditional ecological knowledge. From the demographic analysis, knowledge is distributed among age groups as follows: 18-35 years, 27.7%; 36-55 years, 49.2%; above 56 years, 23.1%, while gender distribution is as follows: male, 83.1%, female, 16.9%. Data Structure and Usage: The dataset consists of four complementary files: (1) Demographic survey data with informant characteristics; (2) Plant species, listed according to their uses, such as medicinal, food, fuelwood, and construction, among others; (3) Detailed traditional medicinal uses, considering the mode of preparation; and (4) Botanical inventory with taxonomic information. This dataset allows for comparative ethnobotanical analysis, biodiversity conservation planning, pharmacological screening, and interpretation of traditional knowledge transmission patterns. The voucher numbers can be used to cross-reference herbarium specimens for verification.