DEPARTMENT OF ETHNOBOTANY

Functions and tasks:

To propose and carry out projects, scientific tasks on ethnobotany in Vietnam.

To seek international cooperation on research in ethnobotany.

Activities:

Investigate and conduct research on experience and knowledge of plant use by ethnic minorities in Vietnam. Building the Data Base of Vietnamese ethnobotanical knowledge, especially for 2005-2015 focussing on specific groups of medicinal plants, poisons, dyes and edible plants.

Apply experience and knowledge of plant use of ethnic minorities to produce new products in order to contribute to the socio- economic development, and to raise the life of people in communities by producing natural dyes from plants, ethnic medicinal plants and remedy to treat fatal diseases, plant protection products, and some substances for use in aquaculture. Conduct research on conservation and development of traditional economic plants for sustainable use of the plant gene sources. Selection and development of an anise variety (Illicium verum) having high productivity and quality. Planning and producing some high value commercial products from Black grass jelly (Mesona chinensis), conserve, develop some food color plants and high economic value traditional medicinal plants...

Research the effect of relationship between culture, ethnic customs and the mode of production, action level on environment and biodiversity; to propose management policies to contribute effective and sustainable use of biodiversity, and to conserve cultural characters of ethnic minorities.

Study on the scientific basis and propose biodiversity conservation model in communities, economic agricultural development model, which are suitable for specific ethnic communities. Based on previous researches, we successfully built conservation and development models of traditional medicinal plants for H' mong, Dao, Tay, Thai communities in Lao Cai, Lang Son, Ha Giang, Son La Provinces. For example, forest garden-farm economic model of Dao, household garden economic model of H' mong, development and conservation model of dye plant gene sources at Tay, Nung, Tudi, Pari communities.

Cooperation:

Head of department: Senior researcher, PhD. Bui Van Thanh. Tel: +84-4-37565939; +84-(0)989965604. Email: thanhbv2001@gmail.com

Staffs: