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Botanical Ethnoknowledge Index

Also known as: Botanical Ethnobotanical Index

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Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Shabelle Zone, Eastern ... link.springer.com Springer Feb 5, 2026 13 facts
referenceThe acronym BEI stands for Botanical Ethnoknowledge Index.
claimQuantitative measures used in the Shabelle Zone WEP study, specifically the Botanical Ethnoknowledge Index (BEI) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), depended on participant recall, which could lead to under- or over-reporting of data.
referenceThe Botanical Ethnoknowledge Index (BEI) is a quantitative tool used to measure the extent and distribution of ethnobotanical knowledge within a study population and to facilitate comparisons among groups in similar ecological settings.
procedureThe study of wild edible plants in Shabelle Zone, Eastern Ethiopia, utilized the Botanical Ethnoknowledge Index, Relative Frequency of Citation, Informant Consensus Factor, and Jaccard Similarity Index to evaluate species importance and knowledge patterns.
claimLower Botanical Ethnobotanical Index (BEI) values in Ferfer are attributed to ecological limitations, reduced species availability, or weakening intergenerational knowledge networks.
referenceThe Botanical Ethnoknowledge Index (BEI) integrates five variables: (i) the total number of plant species reported by all members of a group, (ii) the mean number of species cited per participant, (iii) the mean number of citations per species, (iv) the number of participants in each group, and (v) the total number of species reported across all groups in the study.
measurementBotanical Ethnoknowledge Index (BEI) values range from just above 0 to a theoretical maximum of 2, with higher values indicating a greater depth and breadth of ethnobotanical knowledge within a group.
measurementAnalysis using the Botanical Ethnoknowledge Index (BEI) in the Shabelle Zone of Ethiopia revealed that Gode exhibited the highest BEI value, followed by Kelafo, while Ferfer recorded the lowest value.
measurementAnalysis using the Botanical Ethnoknowledge Index (BEI) in the Shabelle Zone showed that Gode had the highest BEI value, followed by Kelafo, while Ferfer had the lowest.
claimCommunities with higher Botanical Ethnobotanical Index (BEI) values, such as Gode and Kelafo, are better positioned to sustain dietary diversity, buffer against food shortages, and preserve cultural practices that support biodiversity.
formulaThe Botanical Ethnoknowledge Index (BEI) is calculated using the formula: BEI = (ms * Sg * mc) / (N * St), where 'ms' is the mean number of species reported per participant in a group, 'Sg' is the total number of species reported by all participants in a group, 'mc' is the mean number of citations per species in a group, 'N' is the number of participants in the group, and 'St' is the total number of species reported across all compared groups.
referenceMajeed M, Bhatti KH, Pieroni A, Sõukand R, Bussmann RW, Khan AM, Chaudhari SK, Aziz MA, and Amjad MS published 'Botanical ethnoknowledge index: a new quantitative assessment method for cross-cultural analysis' in the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine in 2025.
claimThe Botanical Ethnoknowledge Index (BEI) was applied to assess variation in ethnobotanical knowledge across study sites in the Shabelle Zone.