Traditional use of Non-Timber Forest Products of Plant Origin from the Djebel Aissa National Park (Ksours Mountains, Algeria)

The populations living around Djebel Aissa National Park are dependent on the non-timber forest products (NTFPs) offered by the park. The objective of this study is to identify and improve knowledge of the different NTFPs used by the populations of Ain Sefra, Tiout, and Mekalis. In this context, structured questionnaires were carried out with 520 participants residing in the selected zones.The results obtained reveal that 33 plants belonging to 16 families and 29 genera are used in traditional medicine, 11 species distributed in 10 genera and 9 families are wild edibles and only one species is considered an artisanal species.In terms of medicinal plants, the Lamiaceae (16.67%), Asteraceae (11.11%) and Fabaceae (11.11%) families are the most represented. The leaves and aerial parts are the most used with respectively 42.42 and 36.36%. Decoction is the most frequent preparation method (66,67%). The oral form is the only frequent use method (100%). Rosmarinus officinalis L (FC = 100%), Artemisia herba-alba Asso (FC = 90.83%), Thymus algeriensis Boiss Et Reut (FC = 85%), Juniperus phoenicea L. (FC = 62.50%), Pistacia atlantica Desf (CF=46.67%) are the plants with highest frequency citation. The ethnobotanical use value (VUs) varies from 0.83% to 3.33%.For wild edibles, the leaves are the most consumed (54.55%). The consumption of the plant parts is done by steaming, eating fresh, and grinding. The relative level of village knowledge (Cr%) varies from 20 to 100%, the best-known wild edibles are Quercus ilex subsp. Ballota (Desf.) Samp, Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam, Rosmarinus officinalis L, Ceratonia silliqua L.