Use and management practices of medicinal plants in and around mixed woodland vegetation, Tigray Regional State, Northern Ethiopia

Background: The concept of ethnomedicine deals with the cultural interpretations health and illness through analyzing using indigenous perceptions/practices. Although tradition medicinal plants in Ethiopia is practiced for a long time, documentation not as intense its history exercise wildly. This study was conducted districts surrounding Hirmi Vegetation to; document identify plant species, record knowledge people on conservation measures area.Methods: Data were collected semi-structured interviews, guided field walks focus group discussions. A total 335 informants participated data acquisition. Preference ranking, informant consensus factor, direct matrix ranking t-tests SPSS employed to analyze data.Results: About 85 species used treat 71 human 16 livestock ailments documented. Herbs comprised largest category (40%) followed by shrubs (35.3%) trees (24.7%). Zehneria scabra (L.f.) Sond, Plumbago zeylanica L. Zingiber officinale Roscoe most preferred abdominal disease which have highest factor values (0.95). Overgrazing, deforestation expansion agriculture repeated threats plants. Growing homegarden, fencing replanting among techniques local community. There significant differences (p<0.05) traditional between age groups, educational status, marital status experience informants. However, religion gender did exert statistically (P >0.05).Conclusion: Traditional healers relevant professionals should provide education how use manage their descendants disseminating required information knowledge. Furthermore, phytochemical toxicological investigations these preferable be carried out intensively.Key words: Conservation, Ethnobotany, Hirmi, Indigenous knowledge, Medicinal Plants