Indigenous Knowledge of Lichens can Improve Human Life in Tribal Areas of Arunachal Pradesh: A Case Study

Abstract

The higher eastern Himalayan regions of India exhibit the luxuriance of different lichen taxa together with other group of plants. The“Punpun” is a common name of lichens used by the Sherdukpen tribe of West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh in Eastern IndianHimalayan regions. The punpun or lichens are gorgeous in nutrients and contains biologically active compounds belonging to variouschemical clades. The tribal people have gigantic traditional knowledge about lichens thus allowing them to use different types oflichens to fulfil their dietary need along with medicinal prospects. The present information was collected during the field visit to thearea between the years 2017-2021. The tribal people in the area prepared some delicious diets from the punpun and served as nutritiveethnic food to tourists visiting there. Though tribal people have great knowledge of lichen uses, but they lack the acquaintance ofappropriate species proficiency. The tribal people provided the detailed methodologies and application of lichens which may be usefulin near future for bioprospection and herbal drug development. The present case study is presented with an aim to encourage thetribal people to investigate further applications of lichens to improve the life of surronding inhabitants and to make them aware of theimportance and conservation of lichen species.