Département de Biologie, Laboratoire de Systématique Végétale et de Biodiversité, Faculté des Sciences et sciences Appliquées, Université Officielle de Bukavu, RD Congo
This study deals with ethnobotanical surveys of the use of woody species collected in three villages including three different ethno-socio-linguistic groups (Shi, Tembo and Pygmies) who live in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP) sub-mountain area. The index of response rate, the value of ethnobotanical use and the importance of the species have been made processed and analysed on data collected. A total of 53 plants used are described, identified and divided into the following four categories according to their use: edible plants, medicinal plants, plants used for woody energy and plant used for constructions. This study has showen that pygmies have knowledge on edible and medicinal plants mostly. The value of the total ethnobotanical use of species not significant from one etnho-socio-linguistic group to another (p-value = 0,514; F= 1, 08 et ddl= 3). Species presenting a high potential of ethnobotanical uses are respectively Prunus africana (Hook f.) Kalkman, Lebrunia buchaie Staner, Maesa lanceolata Forssk, Strombosia scheffleri Engl et Raphia gilletii (De Wild.) Becc. The test of Kruskal-Wallis has revealed that the different plant parts do not have the same level of use importance for the population (F= 1, 08 et ddl = 3) and the correlations are significant for the three ethno-socio-linguistic groups but that of Pygmies is very significant (R