Traditional knowledge and utilization of non-medicinal plants in homegardens of a tropical karst landscape in Central Java, Indonesia
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Abstract. Reza AD, Firdausi E, Kusuma LA, Sabrina MA, Fadhillah EN, Md Naim D, Setyawan AD. 2025. Traditional knowledge and utilization of non-medicinal plants in homegardens of a tropical karst landscape in Central Java, Indonesia. Intl J Trop Drylands 9: 20-35. Homegardens in tropical karst landscapes of Central Java, Indonesia represent vital biocultural systems that conserve plant biodiversity and traditional ecological knowledge while supporting rural livelihoods. This study documents the diversity, uses, and cultural significance of 143 non-medicinal plants across homegardens in Johunut, Paranggupito, and Gudangharjo Villages of Paranggupito Sub-district, Wonogiri District, Central Java. Through interviews with 100 respondents and field observations, plants were categorized into five functional groups: food (45.6%), ornamental (34.7%), spice (12.2%), fodder (8.8%), and other uses (6.8%). Use Value (UV) analysis identified Mangifera indica, Carica papaya, and Zingiber officinale as culturally keystone species. The predominance of trees (39.5%) and utilization of fruits (37.4%) and leaves (15.6%) demonstrate adaptive strategies to karst-specific constraints like shallow soils and seasonal droughts. Inter-village comparisons revealed localized variations, with Paranggupito emphasizing spice plants (e.g., Capsicum annuum UV=0.4) and Gudangharjo prioritizing fodder species, reflecting ecological and cultural adaptations. Notably, 26.5% of species served multiple purposes, exemplified by Cocos nucifera (food, construction, rituals) and Musa acuminata (food, fodder, ceremonial use). The study highlights homegardens as dynamic, multifunctional landscapes where biodiversity conservation intersects with cultural preservation. However, knowledge concentration among elders (51-60 years age group) signals erosion risks. We emphasize the urgency of intergenerational knowledge transfer and community-based conservation to sustain these resilient agroecosystems amidst socioeconomic and environmental changes in fragile karst regions.
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