Principal of PCC Autonomous Dr Thepfüvilie Pierü, along with authors Dr Thejanuo Rhetso, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, and Dr Kensibo Pamai, Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology (third-fifth from the right), along with others, during the release of the book ‘Nagaland Ethnobiology: Traditional Practices and Contemporary Research' on May 13.
DIMAPUR, MAY 13 (MExN): A new book titled Nagaland Ethnobiology: Traditional Practices and Contemporary Research was officially released by Dr Thepfüvilie Pierü, Principal of Patkai Christian College (Autonomous), Chümoukedima-Seithekema on May 13.
According to a press release, the edited book, a collaborative effort by Dr Kensibo Pamai, Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology, and Dr Thejanuo Rhetso, Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany at Patkai Christian College, explores the rich ethnobiological practices of Nagaland and integrates modern scientific research with traditional knowledge.
The book is published by Whetstone Publications, under the aegis of the Sustainable Development Research Centre, Chümoukedima.
The preface of the book highlights Nagaland’s unique biodiversity and the close relationship its indigenous communities have with nature. It offers a comprehensive analysis of various traditional practices, such as zootherapeutic and ethnomedicinal approaches, as well as the consumption of wild edible plants and insects. The chapters also cover the diversity of crops like rice, cabbage pest studies, aquatic insect research, and genetic studies like DNA barcoding of the Naga Tree Tomato (Solanum betaceum), along with the phytochemical and antimicrobial analysis of Parkia roxburghii.
The book is intended to bridge the gap between traditional ecological knowledge and modern science, promoting conservation and empowering local communities to protect their biodiversity. It serves as both a tribute to indigenous knowledge holders and a call for the integration of innovation and tradition to preserve the delicate harmony between humans and nature in Nagaland.
