Diversity Of Araceae And Its Usage By Communities On Tuaran – Kota Belud Forest Reserve Border, Kinabalu Unesco Global Geopark

Abstract

The Araceae family is one of the most diverse plant families in tropical Asia and plays an important ecological and cultural role in the forests of Sabah, Malaysia. However, the extent of its utilization by local communities remains underexplored. This study aims to examine the diversity of wild Araceae species and their usage by communities residing along the Tuaran – Kota Belud border. Field surveys to document Araceae species presence were conducted in four locations which are Monggiland Waterfall Ecotourism (MWE), Murug Turug Ecotourism (MTE), Lema’as Forest Reserve (LFR), and Kelawat Forest Reserve (KFR). Meanwhile, the questionnaire survey on the use of Araceae by the community was conducted in seven villages located across the different designated study zones. As a results, total of 46 Araceae species from 19 genera were recorded across the study sites, with MWE exhibiting the highest diversity (H' = 3.27), while KFR recorded none. Despite the high species richness, only a small number of species were actively used by the community for food, medicinal purposes, ornamental use, and as food wrappers. Zones with greater forest coverage, such as Zone 5, demonstrated more active use of Araceae, whereas urban areas like Zone 3 showed limited interaction. These findings highlight how proximity to forested areas and land use patterns influence the degree of plant utilization. The study concludes that although Araceae diversity in the region is high, its use remains limited and localized, suggesting a need for targeted conservation strategies that consider both ecological values and community livelihoods.