Vol. 3, Issue 1, Part H (2017)

Abstract
Forest and forest products have historically played a significant role in the economy as well as culture and religious in this region since ancient time. Forest has played an important part in history of civilization. They have affected the distribution of mankind over the earth surface and have influenced the religious life of primitive people. In India, the Indigenous people are predominantly composed of the large and diverse tribal population scattered across several states. Tribal people and medical practices are co-related with forest ecology. There were 46 recognized scheduled tribes and three of them have been identified as “Special Primitive Tribal Groups” in the State. The main tribal groups in Madhya Pradesh are Gond, Bhil, Baiga, Korku, Bhariya, Halba, Kaul, Mariya, and Sahariya. Dhar, Jhabua and Mandla districts have more than 50 percent tribal population. In Khargone, Chhindwara, Seoni, Sidhi and Shahdol districts 30 to 50 percent population is of tribes. Maximum population is that of Gond tribes. Tribal communities in this region like Gond, Bhil, Baiga, Korku, Bhariya, Halba, Kaul, Mariya, sahariya. Dhar and Jhabua are of distinct in cultures, traditions, languages and customs but have an intimate attachment with forest for their basic needs such as food, fruits, edible roots, leaves, medicinally important plants etc. Their primary health care system is depending on traditional knowledge of medical practices and medicinal herbs. Therefore the objective is to analyze the importance of medicinal plants and secondarily, medicinal plants used by tribal communities in this region.