Status and Conservation Strategies of Community Plant Genetic Resources—A Case Study in Manlun, a Dai Village in Xishuangbanna

This paper deals with the community plant genetic resources in Manlun, a Dai village in Xishuangbanna, through ethnobotanical and anthropological approaches. Rich plant genetic resources (PGRs) are still conserved in the village. The cultivated plants belong to 68 families, 136 genera and 204 species, which are used for edible, medicinal, ornamental and religious purposes. Many landraces are concentrated in 8 families such as Cucurbitaceae, Araceae, Gramineae. The local society have a very close relationship with the formation and development of PGRs. They play an important role in the conservation and utilization of PGRs. In recent years, PGRs are decreasing because of economic development, population increase and other factors. The indigenous knowledge and local culture are also facing challenges of loss of PGRs, which is a key to encouraging the local people’s participation in PGR conservation.