Wild edible plant species and their role in nutrition and health in Korahe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Wild edible plants (WEPs) are vital for food security, nutrition, and cultural identity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. In Korahe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia, Somali communities rely heavily on natural vegetation, yet ethnobotanical documentation of WEPs remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the diversity, utilization, knowledge patterns, and conservation status of WEPs, with implications for food security and health. METHODS: Ethnobotanical data were collected from 120 purposively selected informants across five study sites using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and guided field walks. Species were also screened against the IUCN Red List to identify threatened and vulnerable wild edible plants, providing insights into their conservation status and informing sustainable management strategies. Quantitative indices, including the Botanical Ethnoknowledge Index (BEI), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and Jaccard Similarity Index (JSI), were applied. Preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, and priority ranking were used to assess species use, multifunctionality, and perceived threats. Statistical analyses (t tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation) were conducted to examine variations in ethnobotanical knowledge across gender, age, literacy, and experience. RESULTS: A total of 57 WEP species across 22 families were documented, with shrubs and trees dominating. Fruits were the most commonly consumed part, while roots, tubers, leaves, stems, and resins were used during food scarcity. Knowledge varied significantly by age, gender, literacy, and experience, with older, male, and key informants exhibiting greater familiarity. Cordeauxia edulis Hemsl., Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile, Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell., and Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod. were highly preferred and multipurpose. Overharvesting, habitat loss, climate variability, grazing, and invasive species were major threats. Three species were identified as threatened either critically endangered or vulnerable, highlighting the urgent need for their conservation and sustainable management. CONCLUSIONS: WEPs are crucial for local nutrition, food security, and cultural heritage. Integrating indigenous knowledge with in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategies and promoting sustainable use and cultivation of high-value species is essential to safeguard these resources for future generations.