A Survey of the Exploitation of Medicinal Plants: Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Taraba State in Perspective

This study appraised the uses of some indigenous medicinal plants in Gashaka Gumti National Park and the methods used in exploiting and processing the plants. Data for the study were collected through field observation, interview, and structured questionnaire. A hundred and five (105) structured questionnaires were administered to local communities around the park. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings of the study reveal that there are about 35 families of medicinal plants species found in the Park and the majority of them are reported to be wild. There has been little effort to document these plant species. The findings also show that the bark, leaf, seed, root, and stem of medicinal plants are used for different purposes. The methods of processing these parts of the medicinal plants are boiling, soaking in water and pounding depending on the type of ailment or disease.