Tuber Wild Plants of Shinasha People as Food and Medicine in Bullen District, Northwest of Ethiopia

Plants provide food and medicine besides protecting the environment and are very important for survival of peoples. Human beings have adapted to the present life style of crop cultivation for food from hunting gathered nearly 10,000 years ago, probably due to population explosive, climate change, over hunting may be as simple disserve for more food [1]. Wild edible plants are important in the livelihood strategies of local people, and forest dwellers in many developing countries [2]. Western region of Ethiopia is rich in the floral diversity of roots and tubers. It harbours one of the richest biodiversity hot spots in the Western Ghats and the North eastern regions. The hotspot contains a large number of wild relatives of cultivated tuber crops as well as many underexploited tuber crops known to tribals. Major portion of the genetic diversity of wild species and land races existing in the tropical forests and remote villages are yet to be explored, collected and conserved [3].