Assessment of diversity and associated indigenous knowledge of wild edible berries in nembe local government area, bayelsa state

Wild edible plants, particularly berries, offer a potential solution to nutritional problems, providing rich sources of nutrients, vitamins, and nutraceuticals while requiring minimal environmental impact. The study focused on the documentation of the diversity of wild edible berries and the indigenous knowledge of the species in Nembe Local Government Area (LGA), Bayelsa State, Nigeria a region rich in biodiversity but increasingly threatened by environmental degradation from oil exploration and urbanization. Fieldwork conducted across seven communities in study area identified fourteen (14) wild berry species distributed across 10 families. These species have historically played a vital role in local diets, cultural practices, and traditional medicine. However, findings revealed significant decline in both the consumption of these berries and the transmission of related indigenous knowledge, posing a risk to the conservation of these species. The impact of forest degradation and indiscriminate harvesting leading the loss of the plant genetic resources as well as indigenous knowledge is highlighted. Also, crucial is the urgent need for strategies to preserve and sustainably utilize these genetic resources and exploration of cultivation techniques to overcome the constraints on these valuable resources.