Future of Food: Journal on Food

Dependency and Economic Benefits of Use of Wild Food Plants use among Tribal Communities in Malai Madeshawara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern India

Harisha R P
ATREE
Siddappa Setty R
ATREE
Ravikanth G

Wild food plant resources and their indigenous knowledge of use, are in danger of being lost in areas where rapid environmental and cultural transformations have led to changes in eating habits and practices. The study assesses the dependency and economic value of wild food plant use among forest-dwelling communities. Community perceptions are used to assess the use patterns and interrelations of human well-being. The data is collected through a combination of semi-structured interviews, household questionnaire survey, and focus group discussions in eight villages. Wild food plants are of vital importance to local communities in terms of food security, dietary diversity, and household economy. Local communities use wild plant species as vegetables, fruits, beverages, in traditional therapeutic practices, and as a symbol of ethnic identity. The taxonomical distribution and diversity of 124 species belonging to 57 families and 91 genera are assessed. The cash value of wild food plants to a household range from ? 3200 to 6000 per year. These plants are a reliable safety net for many households and play a vital role in the livelihoods of the local people. The study emphasizes the dependency and livelihood importance of these plants.

Keywords : wild food plants, indigenous community, dependency, economic benefits .

Myanmar High School Students’ Perceptions of College and International Readiness in Western Society

Mark Speckien
Louisiana Tech University
Mark Speckien
Louisiana Tech University
International students are more likely to experience mental health issues and increased stress. Mental health is often surrounded by negative societal stigmas that act as barriers to seeking support and tend to lead to greater mental health concerns. International students tend to seek socioemotional support from other international student peers rather than seeking out counseling services. However, this study shows that LGBTQIA+ international students were less likely to seek socioemotional support from other international student peers due to fear of their sexual orientation being discovered and their families finding out about their identity. This study examines how LGBTQIA+ international students talk about their experiences on and off campus in relations to their socioemotional well-being. Specifically, this study sought to better understand the complexities of LGBTQIA+ students’ identities, and the challenges they faced in terms of their socioemotional well-being. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Keywords : international students, socioemotional well-being, mental health, identity development, intersectionality, LGBTQIA