We present the first large-scale synthesis of indigenous knowledge (IK) on New Guinea’s useful plants based on a quantitative review of 488 references and 854 herbarium specimens. Specifically, we assessed (i) spatiotemporal trends in the documentation of IK, (ii) which are New Guinea’s most useful ecosystems and plant taxa, (iii) what use categories have been better studied, and (iv) which are the best studied indigenous groups. Overall, our review integrates40,376 use reports and 19,948 plant uses for 3434 plant species.
SDG
DEC
Species
Pacific tourism
Plant diversity
The Highlands region of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a major contributor to the fragile nation state’s economy through its agricultural and mineral exports. It is also home to approximately 40% of the country’s population, who rely almost exclusively on the road network for movement of people and goods, and thus livelihood opportunities as well as access to health, education, and social facilities. The road network is vulnerable because of the mountainous terrain, the fragile geological conditions, and the climate.