Ethnobotanical Wisdom of the Tribals in the Palni Hills

ABOUT THE BOOK: Ethnobotany of the Western Ghats is the first and only book of its kind, dealing with the ethnobotanical wealth of the Western Ghats. It is based on a long association of the author with the tribals in the Paini Hills for the past fourteen years and original in depth research on the plant wealth.
It is multidimensional, touching upon the sociological, economic, cultural, political, anthropological, health and folk aspects of the tribals in association with their habitat (forests and plants). There has not been any such comprehensive research, done so far on all these aspects. Thus this book is unique in its kind, value and usefulness. It documents all the knowledge in the oral tradition of the tribals.
The second chapter gives an overall summary of ethnobotany and ethnobotanical research at the global, national and local levels.
A total of 326 ethnobotanicalty valuable plants have been identified and described in this book. Photos of most of these plants are also included.
The last chapter discusses the vital elements of forest conservation with tribal cooperation and ways and means of tribal welfare and development.
This book will definitely be a resource book for educationists, ethnobotanists, research scholars, scientists, students and source book for NGOs, individuals and groups committed for the cause and welfare of the tribals and ecology, research centres, educational institutions, policy makers and others.
It is written is simple English, easily understood by all. But the wealth it contains is enormous.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. S. M. John Kennedy S.J. is a Jesuit of the Madurai Jesuit Province. He is presently a scientist in the Centre for Biodiversity and Biotechnology in St. Xavier's College, Plamayamkottai. He is also teaches English to the intermediate students in St. Mary's HS School, Dindigul.
He has done his doctorate on the Ethnobotany of the Western Ghats. He has so far written and published six books in Tamil and one in English on environment, environmental awareness and conservation. He has presented 14 scientific papers in national and international seminars and conferences and most of these papers have been published. Besides, many of his articles have been published in news papers, magazines, journals and books.
He has conducted classes and seminars in many parts of Tamil Nadu and a few places in India on environmental awareness. In January, 2006, he organized an International Conference on 'Sea, Land, People-Marine and Terrene Ecology', in St. Xavier's College, Palayamkottai. He has operated a major project of Coastal Ecological Issues in the context of Tsunami, in 2005-06.

CONTENTS:
Acknowledgements
Foreword
From the Author
Message
1. Introduction
2. Ethnobotany and its Scope
3. The Paini Hills in the Western Ghats
4. Sociological Aspects of Palliyans and Pulayans
5. Cultural Aspects of the Palliyans and Pulayans
6. Health Care and Medical Practices
7. Ethnobotanical Wealth of the Tribals
8. Alienation and Exploitation of the Tribals
9. Tribal Development and Conservation of Forests
Appendices
Index