Indigenous Knowledge of Lichens can Improve Human Life in Tribal Areas of Arunachal Pradesh: A Case Study

Abstract

The higher eastern Himalayan regions of India exhibit the luxuriance of different lichen taxa together with other group of plants. The
“Punpun” is a common name of lichens used by the Sherdukpen tribe of West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh in Eastern Indian
Himalayan regions. The punpun or lichens are gorgeous in nutrients and contains biologically active compounds belonging to various
chemical clades. The tribal people have gigantic traditional knowledge about lichens thus allowing them to use different types of
lichens to fulfil their dietary need along with medicinal prospects. The present information was collected during the field visit to the
area between the years 2017-2021. The tribal people in the area prepared some delicious diets from the punpun and served as nutritive
ethnic food to tourists visiting there. Though tribal people have great knowledge of lichen uses, but they lack the acquaintance of
appropriate species proficiency. The tribal people provided the detailed methodologies and application of lichens which may be useful
in near future for bioprospection and herbal drug development. The present case study is presented with an aim to encourage the
tribal people to investigate further applications of lichens to improve the life of surronding inhabitants and to make them aware of the
importance and conservation of lichen species.