Abstract

Globally traditional knowledge on wild edible vegetables (WEVs) exists in most communities, but this information is limited and incomplete in the Serengeti ecosystem. This study employed face to face interviews using semi-structured questionnaires to about 180 households to acquire the required information on the WEVs species they consume in their area. After analysis of the collected data, the results indicated that a total of 10 WEVs species mostly herbaceous plants belonging to 10 genera and 9 families were used mainly for domestic (92.8%) and partly commercial (7.2%) purposes. Women (50.8%) were more knowledgeable on the WEVs they use than men in their area. Also, households with lower income (n = 161) represented more of women who were more knowledgeable on the WEVs they consume because they are the ones who most frequently harvested and cooked them. Additionally, majority of the households (86.6%) reported that the WEVs were decreasing in supply and difficult in accessing them and again were aware that WEVs were improving their livelihood and healthy status in the area. Therefore, we call for urgent measures to protect and conserve WEVs in Serengeti ecosystem.

Key words: Wild edible vegetables, traditional knowledge, communities, ethnobotany, Serengeti ecosystem.