Current status and use of medicinal plants in buffer zone of hoang lien national park

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT VIETNAM FORESTRY UNIVERSITY STUDENT THESIS CURRENT STATUS AND USE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN BUFFER ZONE OF HOANG LIEN NATIONAL PARK Major :

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

VIETNAM FORESTRY UNIVERSITY

STUDENT THESIS

CURRENT STATUS AND USE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN BUFFER ZONE OF

HOANG LIEN NATIONAL PARK

Major : Natural Resource Management

Code: D850101

Faculty : Forest Resource and Environment Management

Student: Nguyen Kieu Linh Student ID: 1154031263

Class: K57 Natural Resources Management Course: 2012 – 2016

Advanced Education Program Developed in collaboration with Colorado State University, USA

Supervisor: Dr Pham Minh Toai

Ha Noi, 2016

I also would like to express my gratitude to village heads and villagers of buffer zone

in Hoang Lien National Park for their kind help during my stay in each village, especially house-holds sampled and key informants in which provided me valuable time and information needed for my study

During the topic implementing process, although I had a lot of my own efforts, my research is inevitable to meet shortcomings because of limit time and professional qualifications I look forward to receive some comments of teachers for our subject more perfect

I sincerely thank you!

Hanoi, October 3nd, 2016 Student

Nguyen Kieu Linh

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

HLNP Hoang Lien National Park

NTFPs Non-timber forest products

IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature WHO World Health Organization

TABLE OF CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGENTS

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENT

LIS OF TABLES

LIS OF FIGURES

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 3

2.1 Concept of medicinal plants 3

2.2 History research on medicinal plants in Vietnam 3

2.3 The values of medicinal plants 4

CHAPTER 3 OBJECTIVES AND METHODS 6

3.1 Objectives 6

3.2 Study methods 6

3.2.1 Secondary data collection 6

3.2.2 Field survey 6

3.2.3 Transect method 6

3.2.4 Sample plots investigation 8

3.2.5 Method of collecting, processing and sorting specimens 8

CHAPTER 4 RESEARCH AREA 9

4.1 Natural conditions 9

4.1.1 Geographic location 9

4.1.2 Topography 10

4.1.3 Geology and soil 11

4.1.4 Climate 11

4.1.5 Hydrology 12

4.1.6 Biodiversity values 12

4.2 Social-economic conditions 14

4.3 Natural conditions 15

4.4 Population and employment 16

4.5 Education 17

4.6 Agricultural production 18

4.7 Health care 19

4.8 Different the livelihood between H‟mong and Red Dao ethnic in Ta Phin commune 19

CHAPTER 5 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 21

5.1 Diversity of medicinal plant 21

5.2 The source of medicinal plants 23

5.3 Diversity of life forms 25

5.4 Different parts of plant treat different diseases 26

5.5 Diseases treated with medicinal plants 27

5.6 Methods of using the medicinal plant 28

5.7 The knowledge of Red Dao ethnic 29

5.8 Conversation of medicinal plants in Ta Phin commune 30

CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 31

6.1 Conclusion 31

6.2 Recommendation 31

REFERENCES

APPENDIX

LIS OF TABLES

Table 3.1 Field data sheet used to collect information 7

Table 3.2 Field data sheet used to collect information 8

Table 4.1 Distribution taxons in plylums 12

Table 4.2 List of medicinal plants capable of exploitation in HLNP 13

Table 4.3 Land characteristics in Ta Phin commune 15

Table 4.4 Distribute types of ethnic in Ta Phin commune 16

Table 4.5 Crops area 18

Table 5.1 List of medicinal species distribution in families 21

Table 5.2 List of medicinal plants capable of exploitation in buffer zone of HLNP 22

Table 5.3 Distribution of medicinal plant species 23

Table 5.4 List species in red book data 24

Table 5.5 List of life forms of medicinal plants species in buffer zone of HLNP 25

Table 5.6 Percentage of part used 27

Table 5.7 List of family and plant species used for different diseases by Red Dao ethnic in Ta Phin commune 28

Table 5.8 Percentage of gender and age level of Red Dao minority in Ta Phin commune harvesting medicinal plants 29

LIS OF FIGURES

Figure 3.1 Transect method 7

Figure 4.1 Administrative map of Hoang Lien National Park, Lao Cai province 10

Figure 4.2 Percentage of land use in Ta Phin commune 16

Figure 4.3 Distribution of respondents by education 18

Figure 4.4 Different the livelihood between H‟mong and Red Dao ethnic in Ta Phin commune 20 Figure 5.1 Diversity of distribution 23

Figure 5.2 Percentage of life forms of medicinal plants species was used in Ta Phin commune 26

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

Vietnam is a tropical country rich with enormous potential resources of medicinal plants According to statistics of IUCN, 2006, "Access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing" (of the International Union for Conservation of Nature – IUCN, 2006), Vietnam has nearly 4,000 species of higher and lower levels which are used as drugs, they are widely distributed throughout the country Hoang Lien National Park is located in Lao Cai province the northwest part of the country with an average altitude of more than 1500m above sea level where there is a favorable climate for developing of the pharmaceutical industry with the number of specific species accounts for ¼ in total endemic species of Vietnam, about 754 medicinal species plants The region has six ethnic groups, Dao and H'mong majority ethnic groups have experience in using medicinal plants In many ethnic communities in mountainous regions, beside the main traditional form of common drugs such as decoction, alcohol, drugs, poultices bunch, etc Dao people also use drugs to spa It is about 10 to 120 medicinal herbs are used for caring health and healing since ancient times The traditional beauty medicine of Dao ethnic in Vietnam called herbal spa (Vietnamese is “Đìa dảo xin”) is not only from the Red Dao in Sapa, but also from other Dao ethnic groups In the Dao‟s community, most of the member family know herbs spa However, Dao‟s women often know more about where and how to exploit resources sustainability in order to use for long term Valuable medicinal resources will bring not only the medical value but also the main income

of almost Dao‟s households Due to limited awareness of the ethnic minorities as well as no strict management policies, type of mining naturally is usually massive exploitation, making

up everyone, especially the buffer zone of the Hoang Lien National Park in Sapa town, Lao Cai province This valuable resource is gradually depleted and at risk of extinction Other sides, many medicinal plants face extinction or severe genetic loss, but detail information is

lacking Therefore, investigating the use of medicinal plants is very important It contributes

to the conservation and development of medicinal plants, as well as information provision to serve local people and contribute to the preservation of experience using the valuable

medicinal plants Facing urgent requirement, I have conducted research the subject: " Status and use of medicinal plants in buffer zone of Hoang Lien National Park."

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Concept of medicinal plants

World Health Organization (WHO) has defined medicinal plants as plants that contain properties or compounds that can be use for therapeutic purposes or those that synthesize metabolites to produce useful drugs (WHO, 2008)

In “Guidelines for The Appropriate use of Herbal Medicines” (1998), medicinal plant

is a plant which has been used for medical purposes at one time or another, and which, although not necessarily a product or available for marketing, is the original material of herbal medicines

Ethnobotany is defined that the study of the interrelationship between people and plants, particularly the way in which plants impact on human culture and practices, how humans have used and modified plants, and how they represent them in their systems of knowledge

Studies on the relationship between human and medicinal plants contribute to classification, conservation and sustainable management practices

2.2 History research on medicinal plants in Vietnam

In Vietnam, traditional medicine systems have a history over 2000 years Traditional medicines are characterized by the use of crude herbs They were documented for the first time in the ten-volume “The Miracle of Southern Medicine” written in the 14th Century by Tue Tinh, which listed approximately 500 naturally sourced materials forming the basis for over 3,800 traditional remedies, which were used to cure 182 diseases and ailments (Le Tran Duc, 1995)

In 1977, Vo Van Chi has published his book “Medicinal plants Dictionary of Vietnam” Then, Professor Do Tat Loi compiled the book “The medicinal plants and herbs of Vietnam" (1962 - 1965) In this book, about 450 different plants species belonging to 116 families were

presented Until 2006, he supplemented and completed, which presented the full scientific name, characteristics, morphology, chemical composition, the use of 670 species belonging to

172 families It can be said that this is the most complete work of Vietnamese medicinal plants until now, it has gathered valuable experience from a variety of sources both inside and outside the country It has important meaning to the healers, the researchers, botanists, organism‟s conservationists On April ,2004, Pham Hoang Ho published the book "Plants herbs in Vietnam" , in which he made more than 2010 different species of medicinal plants Later on, in 2007, Hanoi publishing house published the book "Medicinal Plants” and “The medicinal ingredients”, “The remedies of Vietnam " of two pharmacists Cao Duy Can and Tran Sy Vien, which have listed 380 species of medicinal plants and 161 remedies can cure different disease groups

That were the previous studies, they have great significance in terms of medicine They provide us species composition, the morphological characteristics, the therapeutic use of the species and some common remedies often used

2.3 The values of medicinal plants

Medicinal plants hold potential value for developing pharmaceutical products and health care supplement In the period 19th and early 20th Centuries, French botanists continued the research into the taxonomy of Viet Nam‟s medicinal flora and his colleagues introduced the book “General Flora of Indochina” (Nguyen Dao Ngoc Van and Nguyen Tap, 2008) While traditional medicine has always remained very popular among Vietnamese people he did not encourage the use of traditional medicine or include it in the formal healthcare system Western medicine with the best hospital are all located in main cities The health center in remote areas is lacked of medical equipment and trained staff Knowledge of medicinal plants become the only way of healing Knowledge of traditional medicine was transmitted orally over several generations and became popular in their communities

The value of medicinal plants to human livelihoods is essentially infinite (Hamilton,2003) In knowledge of medicinal plants, all parts of a plant can be utilised (e.g roots, bark, woody stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, resin and seeds) Plants are frequently used

in fresh or dried form They are often combined according to prescription and added to a solution (usually water), cooked and reduced The exploitation of medicinal plants as a non-timber products bring value to help to support health care in the community as well as improve people's lives

Medicinal plants contributions to human health, culture and livelihood or economic In addition to the medicinal value of plants, the culture value was abundant through contributing the private knowledge of traditional medicine of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam For the Dao community in the study area, traditional medicine of ethnic Dao is bearing deep with the local knowledge Dao community is keeping a treasure knowledge of healing plants When they was living in the high mountains , when someone sick, they heal with medicinal plants themselves, and do worship ceremony to "catch" the disease away Only when they move in the buffer zone of the national, they began disseminate knowledge of medicinal plants outside, both heal and as a source of livelihood to support their life

Medicinal plant is a subject to bring the potential value By combining indigenous knowledge and modern appropriate technology, researchers can to find new medicine base on diversity genetic and utility

All the values that bring by medicinal plants are opening up opportunities for research, approach and use sustainability this resource

CHAPTER 3 OBJECTIVES AND METHODS 3.1 Objectives

Objectives of this study are to:

- Assess the diversity and conservation status of medicinal plant species in Buffer zone area of Hoang Lien National Park

- Assess the status of using medicinal plant species of local people in order to evaluate value and role of medicinal plant in the livelihood of local people

- Propose some solutions for sustainable management and use of medicinal plans in

studied area

3.2 Study methods

3.2.1 Secondary data collection

- The documents related the natural conditions climate, hydrology, land, topographic,

forest resources, administrative maps in HLNP

- The information, of economic conditions, social conditions: population, labor, ethnic composition, cultivation areas in the buffer zone of HLNP

- The results of research, the text related the medicinal plants in Vietnam and in the area of HLNP

3.2.2 Field survey

Interviewing 40 randomly households study selected to interview 3 people groups who live in buffer zone of HLNP: people curing others, people growing the medicine plants and people having experiences in using medicinal plants by questionnaires to statistics medicinal plants diversity, the origin and identification exploitation zone

3.2.3 Transect method

- The transect line have designed in the map depend on consultation of forestry staff in HLNP

- Establish transects which represent study area

Figure 3.1: Transect method

 The process of investigation on the route using GPS to determine direction of travel and length of the investigation

 Taking medicinal plants by digital camera

The collected data is recorded in data sheet as table below:

Table 3.1 Field data sheet used to collect information

3.2.4 Sample plots investigation

 Because of moving not favorable, I conduct investigation medicinal plants in sample plots

 Area and sample plot size should be arranged in line with the current state of the investigation where measurable

 In plots, I statistic medicinal plants in super canopy, under the canopy and shrubs and fresh vegetation

The collected data is recorded in data sheet as table below:

Table 3.2 Field data sheet used to collect information

Quantity of medicine plant

Quantity of big tree

Note

3.2.5 Method of collecting, processing and sorting specimens

- Collect sample, take pictures of some medicinal plants I have met in the study area

- Document used for medicinal plants identification is “Medicinal trees and medicaments of Vietnam” ( Loi D.T, 2015) [7] to determine the scientific name of medicinal plants species, making list of medicinal plants, including local name, scientific name, purpose, used parts, origin and processing

CHAPTER 4 RESEARCH AREA A- Hoang Lien National Park

4.1 Natural conditions

4.1.1 Geographic location

HLNP is situated in North-west Vietnam

Its geographical coordinates are between 22º09‟and 23º30‟ of the Northern latitudes and between 103º00‟ and 103º59‟ of the Eastern longitudes

The park covers an area of 51,800 ha, in which the buffer zone is 29,845ha

The park belongs 6 communes: San Sa Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van, Ban Ho, Muong Khoa, Than Thuoc (Sapa district) and Than Uyen (Lao Cai province)

It is bordered by:

- Thanh Kinh, Nam Sai, Nam Cang commune (Sa Pa District) and Ta Phin commune (Lao Cai province) in the East

- Ban Bo, Binh Lu, Ho Thau ( Lai Chau province) in the West

- Van Ban dictrict and the rest of communes: Muong Khoa, Than Thuoc, Ho Mit, Pac

Ca ( Lao Cai province) in the South and Southeast

- Ta Giang Phinh, Ta Phin, Ban Khoanh, Trung Trai (Sapa dictrict) in the North

Figure 4.1 Administrative map of Hoang Lien National Park, Lao Cai province

terms of altitude, the widest difference can be 1000- 1500m, forming distinct and separated reliefs Scattered among the foot of huge mountains are fertile valleys deposited by alluvia such as those in Ta Van, Lao Chai, and Ban Ho communes

The main types of terrain include height mountain, valley and mountainside

4.1.3 Geology and soil

The types of land are distributed by altitude

- Humic acrisols on the high mountain, distribute from 1600m to 2800m occupies 11.42% of the land area mostly in Sa Pa district which has rich canopy of mixed forest

- Feralit yellowish brown soil develops on clay schist rock, sandstone widespread focus on 600m-1600m above sea level, soils from thin to average There are many rocks and rocky places They cover 30% land area which is suitable for medicinal plants, fruit trees and vegetables

- Feralit bright red soil developed on clay schist stone, sandstone, mica schist and sedimentary rocks, distributed in the foothills and slopes at height less than 500 m, is a fertile land suitable for the annual and commercial crops

- The Alluvial group (1.47% of the land area) along the Red River is good for growing food crops and trees

4.1.4 Climate

HLNP belongs to subtropical and temperate zone in mountainous region The climate

is temperate and cool all year round The average temperature is 13-210C

The feature is four seasons in one day: Chilly winter in the early morning, spring time after sunrise, summer in afternoon and cold winter at night

In winter (4 months between November and February), the weather in Sapa is invariably cold, wet and foggy (temperatures can drop to freezing and there was snow in 2011)

It rains very often during the month of August, especially in the mornings

In general, HLNP which has diverse climates, distributed from tropical to subtropical, temperate and alpine

4.1.5 Hydrology

Although the park does not have any river flow through, it has 2 main stream systems:

- 3 streams belong to the Northeast: Muong Hoa Ho (derived from Fansipan), Seo Chung Ho (derived from Ta Van commune), Ta Trung Ho (derived from Ban Ho commune)

- 2 streams belong to the Southwest: Nam Be (derived from Muong Khoa) and Nam Pao, Nam Chang (derived from Than Thuoc commune) Both of them flow into Da river

4.1.6 Biodiversity values

The recent investigation in 2003 is recorded 2432 species belonging to 898 genera and

209 families

Table 4.1 Distribution taxons in plylums

Vietnamese name Science name Quantity % Quantity % Quantit

Source: Data for additional investigation of the Hoang Lien vegetation forest, 2003

Among 2432 species, 34 species were listed in the Red List (IUCN 1998), 82 species were listed in the Vietnam Red Book (1996) and 11 species were listed at risk of extinction in Decree 18 and Decree 48

With regard to use, 754 species being classified as medicinal plants; 458 species being classified as standing timber; 311 species are considered as shade and ornamental trees; 126 species are enumerated as vegetables; 60 species are taken for fruit, 43 species are taken for latex, 35 species are taken for tannins, 41 oil species, 26 species is used for oleoresins wax, 25 species are classified as knit material, 23 species can be used for fiber string, 21 species for green manure, 17 species for tuber, 10 species for roof houses, 10 species for dye and 9 species for starch

* Medicinal Plants resources:

According to a preliminary investigation of National Institute of Medicinal Materials, only 17 species are capable of exploitation Mostly medicinal plant species are common

Table 4.2 List of medicinal plants capable of exploitation in HLNP

3 Bình vôi Stephania glabra (Roxb.) Miers Menispermaceae

4 Câu đằng Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq) Jack Rubiaceae

5 Cầu tích Cibotium bazometz (L.) J Sm Dicksoniaceae

6 Chè dây Ampelopsis cantoniensis Hook Et Arn Vitaceae

7 Chùa dù Elsholtzia penduliflora W W Smith Lamiaceae

8 Cốt khí củ Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb st Zucc Polygonaceae

9 Cốt toái bổ Drynaria fortune J.Sm Polipodiaceae

10 Cẩm địa la Kaempferia rotunda Ridl Zingiberaceae

11 Dạ cầm Hedyotis capitellata Wall ex G Don var

mollis Pierre ex Pit

Rubiaceae

12 Đảng sâm Codonopsis javanica Blume Campanulaceae

13 Hà thủ ô đỏ Polygonum multiflorum Thunb Polygonaceae

15 Hoàng đằng Fibraurea tinctoria Lour Menispermacea

16 Hy thiêm Siegesbeckia orientalis L Asteraceae

17 Ích mẫu Leonurus heterophyllus Sw Lamiaceae

4.2 Social-economic conditions

Local people living in HLNP (both core zone and buffer zone) belongs to six ethnic minority groups which are H'mong, Tay, Dao, Giay, Kho Mu and Kinh people In which, H'mong ethnic is the highest population accounted for 37.6% The second largest group is Tay ethnic group accounted for 36.4% and Dao ethnic group with 6.5% of total population

At present, there are 24006 people living in buffer zone and core zone of HLNP corresponding to 4362 households distributed in 39 villages

The major economic activity of local residents is agriculture include paddy rice in terraced fields, maize and cassava on hillside and cardamom under forest canopy

They plant cassava whereas other villages grow maize for feeding both people and animal Besides these main crops, local people also grow potato, bean, hemp, arrowroot, peanuts and bamboo and used mainly for home consumption

Beside agriculture production, local people cut timber for house construction, making furniture agricultural tools; collect firewood for cooking and heating, collect non-forestry products (NTFPs) such as young bamboo shoots, edible roots and leaves, mushrooms, honey, medical plants, ornamental plants, animals for both home consumption and sale

Besides that, the fact that local people engage in tourism is a good strategy to improve livelihood assets in term of financial, social and human capital

B- Communes and Villages selected

Outside the boundaries of Hoang Lien National Park, two villages of Ta Phin commune were selected to carry out household survey in order to collect data on household characteristics, farming system and generating cash-income activities of local people, local knowledge about using medicinal plant, ect Those two villages were selected based on the difference H‟mong and Red Dao ethnic from cropping grown, the diversity of livelihood activities

4.3 Natural conditions

Ta Phin commune is bodered on the West of HLNP

Its geographical coordinates are 22º23‟58‟‟ of the Northern latitudes and between 103º50‟15‟‟ of the Eastern longitudes

Ta Phin commune has 4 sides bordered the commune administrative units within and outside Sapa district:

- Trung Chai in the East

- Sa Pa in the Southern

- Ban Khoang in the West

- Phin Ngang – Bat Xat in the North

It is an area of 2,718,3 ha

Table 4.3 Land characteristics in Ta Phin commune

Land uses Area (ha) Percentage (%)

Figure 4.2 Percentage of land use in Ta Phin commune

Base on the above table we know that agriculture and forestry land of commune are high proportion We may assert that agricultural production and forestry play a major role in

Ta Phin commune

4.4 Population and employment

At present, there are 3246 people living in Ta Phin commune corresponding to 668 households distributed in 6 villages (Sa Xeng, Can Ngai, Ta Chai, Lu Khau, Suoi Thau, Giang Tra) Population density is reached 76 person per km2 In which, 1526 people are men and

1716 people are women

Ta Phin commune has 3 ethnics living together: H‟mong, Red Dao and Kinh (Table 4.4)

Table 4.4 Distribute types of ethnic in Ta Phin commune

Ethnic Quantity (person) Household Percent (%)

In general, H‟mong ethnic occupy high portion in population They live mostly on the slopes or mountaintop Red Dao ethnic live situated in group around foothills, valley, where near water Kinh ethnic distributed around the main traffic axis and center commune

- Employment

In 1343 people of rural employee, about 40 respondents are farming which refers to agricultural production and/or forest farming under shade of ever green forest while they also exploit firewood, timber and NTFPs products

+ Farming: 90%

+Forest resources extraction: 2.5%

+ Industry, sub- industry and services: 5%

+ Others: 5%

4.5 Education

- The highest education of respondents was upper secondary school (corresponding to

10 years to 12 years education of Vietnam education system) About 5% of total respondents

- There was not any respondent obtained an education up to vocational school or undergraduate level

- The proportion of illiterate among respondents was quite high About 62.5% of total respondents were illiterate

Figure 4.3 Distribution of respondents by education 4.6 Agricultural production

Table 4.5 Crops area

technology is limited In the contrary, mostly household planted cardamom and all of them sold dried cardamom fruit to get cash income

- In addition, monogastric livestock and poultry are a traditional component of farming systems in Ta Phin commune Popular types of livestock raised in Ta Phin commnune are pig (86% of components), buffalo (55,33% of components) and duck (46,33%) Other kinds of livestock such as cow, goat, horse was raised by a small number of households

4.7 Health care

Community Health Center in Ta Phin commune have one nurse, one pharmacist and two midwives Community Health Center participates physical examination and promotes propagandas such as health education However, almost Red Dao ethnic minority do not heal

at health facilities Since ancient times, when they lived on the mountain, when anybody in the village was sick, they treated themselves with medicinal plants around them Knowledge

of traditional medicine of Red Dao ethnic was transmitted orally from generation to generation and it was only popular in their community Until the government moved them down the mountain, sedentary life in the buffer zone of HLNP, they began to carry their knowledge of medicinal plants to the outside, both treatment to rescue people and for their livelihood An herbal spa which is the wisdom of the Red Dao people, especially helpful for physical and mental fatigue, as it relaxes your body and renews your energy by enhancing overall circulation, soothing your daily tensions For women, the herbal bath promotes skin beauty by opening pores, removing dead skin and impurities, and leaving the skin soft, clean, and silky smooth The bath also relieves some chronic illnesses including rheumatism and joint pain

4.8 Different the livelihood between H’mong and Red Dao ethnic in Ta Phin commune

In Ta Phin commune, H‟mong and Red Dao are two major ethnics, in which H‟mong ethnic occupy high portion in population But the livelihood of these ethnic are different Instead