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Ethnobotanical Studies on Indigenous Communities in the Philippines: Current Status, Challenges, Recommendations and Future Perspectives

Ethnobotany encompasses multidisciplinary fields such as systematics and taxonomy, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, phytochemistry, ecology, and conservation biology. This review article gives an account of the current status, challenges, recommendations and future perspectives of Philippine ethnobotanical studies on indigenous communities. Data mining related to ethnobotanical studies was performed retrieving updated search from online databases using series of keywords showing the elements of Philippine ethnobotany. Other literature was sourced from the university library. Philippine ethnobotanical studies still prevail and strengthen the dynamic nature of traditional knowledge among diverse cultural communities. Medical ethnobotany remains the central interest and continually attracted researchers in various fields of discipline. While some of these traditional practices have existed throughout the centuries, most studies reported a threatening loss of knowledge as the younger generation has changed or vanishing. We assessed that the traditional knowledge of indigenous communities is still under- documented across several ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines. Challenges may vary in different cultures and localities. Philippine ethnobotanical studies enhance the quality of science by providing compensation to cultural groups with benefit-sharing and taking into account the importance of their plant resources and environmental concerns. Ethnobotanical surveys present the rich traditional plant knowledge of ethnic groups allowing them to make more educated decisions about their future directions. We recommend quantitative evaluations and experimental assessments of medicinal plants following ethics and standardized data-collecting protocols. Given our findings, we hope to encourage future researchers to formulate clear plans and systematically document ethnobotanical knowledge in the country before it is lost and forgotten.