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International Journal of Ecological Economics & Statistics

Publisher:
—
ISSN:
0973-1385
Category:
ECONOMICS
Impact factor:
0.2
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Ethnobotanical Insights into Medicinal Plants Used by the Inhabitants of Ilam City for Managing Musculoskeletal Pain, Western Iran

2026-04-27

Naser Abbasi, Mohammad Hossein Ekvan, Damoun Razmjoue, Masoumeh Tahmasebi, Mahmoud Bahmani

The use of traditional medicine and herbal remedies is deeply rooted in Iran, a country endowed with extensive biodiversity and a large variety of medicinal plant species. The present study aimed to document ethnobotanical knowledge related to medicinal plants traditionally employed for managing musculoskeletal pain (MSP) in Ilam, a city located in western Iran. A mixed-methods design incorporating both qualitative and quantitative components was adopted. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews conducted with local herbalists and traditional healers. Plant species were identified using reputable sources, including online botanical databases, Dr. Valiollah Mozaffarian`s flora of Ilam, and expert support from the Medicinal Plants Center at Ilam University of Medical Sciences. In total, 30 medicinal plant species belonging to 23 families were recorded as remedies commonly used for MSP among the inhabitants of Ilam. The most frequently cited species included Achillea biebersteinii, Thymbra spicata L., Nigella sativa, Crocus haussknechtii, Datura innoxia Miller, Nerium oleander L., Ricinus communis, and Melissa officinalis. These taxa exhibited the highest levels of traditional relevance, with a usage report (UR) of 5, a relative frequency of citation (RFC) of 0.20, and a percentage familiarity and use (PFU) of 57.6%. Overall, the findings emphasize the significant role of native medicinal flora of Ilam in the traditional management of MSP. Beyond safeguarding valuable ethnobotanical heritage, these results also highlight promising prospects for developing novel phytotherapeutic agents. Further phytochemical and pharmacological investigations will be essential to validate the therapeutic efficacy of these plants and support their potential incorporation into contemporary medical practice

Valuing the Invisible: Estimating the Preservation Value of Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Assam

2026-04-27

Daisy Konwar, Nivedita Goswami

Natural ecosystems provide vital services to human societies, many of which are intangible, invisible and excluded from market pricing. Dibru Saikhowa National Park (DSNP), a river-island national park in Assam, India is one such ecologically rich but economically undervalued site. This study estimates the preservation value of DSNP using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). Based on a representative sample of 362 households, the study elicits individuals` willingness to pay (WTP) for continued preservation of DSNP, independent of any direct use. To ensure reliability, the survey incorporates rigorous bias-mitigation techniques addressing several biases and anomalies that affect CVM. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) identifies two attitudinal dimensions viz., Warm-glow motive and Preservation motive, out of which only the latter significantly influences WTP. A Tobit regression model reveals that environmental awareness, education, and income positively affect WTP, while age and distance to the site show negative effects. To estimate the total preservation value for the state of Assam, the median monthly WTP was scaled up to all households and annualised. The resulting valuation, when compared with the annual government allocation for the area, reveals that public conservation spending amounts to only 0.013% of the preservation value, highlighting a stark underinvestment in conservation efforts. The findings highlight substantial public support for the non-use values of DSNP and underline the need to integrate such values into environmental budgeting and policy.