Document is current

Article History

Received: 23 June 2026

Accepted: 9 August 2026

First Online: 14 August 2026

Declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate: Prior to the commencement of fieldwork, ethical approval was obtained from the Department of Biology, Injibara University, and official permission letters were secured from the Zigem District Administration, as well as from relevant sector offices including the District Agriculture and Natural Resource Development Office. These authorizations ensured compliance with institutional and local administrative requirements for conducting ethnobotanical research in the study area. Before participation, all respondents were fully informed about the objectives, scope, and academic purpose of the study. Free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) was obtained from all participants before conducting interviews, focus group discussions, guided field walks, and other data collection activities. In accordance with local cultural norms, consent was obtained orally, and participation was entirely voluntary, with respondents retaining the right to decline participation or withdraw at any time without any consequence. All data were recorded only with the approval of participants, and care was taken to ensure confidentiality and anonymity throughout the research process. Participants were informed that the information provided would be used solely for scientific and academic purposes related to biodiversity conservation, food security, and ethnobotanical documentation. No personal identifiers were included in any form of publication or data dissemination. In addition, consent was obtained for the use of anonymized information, and for the documentation of photographs taken during field activities where applicable. The study adhered to the principles of the International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) Code of Ethics, ensuring respect for indigenous knowledge systems, cultural values, and community ownership of traditional ecological knowledge.

Consent for publication: All participants gave free, prior, and informed consent for the use and publication of anonymized data generated during the study.

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.