An estimated 50 million of the world's 300 million indigenous people live in or depend on tropical rain forests. These people have a vast knowledge of the forests and know how to use them sustainably. They have gained expertise on medicinal plants and the uses of other native flora and fauna. Table 1 shows the different parts of plants used by different tribal groups for their different needs. Parts of plants exploited by different native groups for different uses.
Data represent the proportion of edible wild species used for specific parts.
These groups depend entirely on the forest for their existence. They use arrow poisons, known as curare, such as Chondrodendron tomentosum , to hunt and kill fish and other animals, for their skins and meat. There is never any wastage, and they never take more than they need, which sustains the balance. The forests are rich in vegetation which produce countless fruit and vegetables to eat. Many tribes actually grow plantations close to their dwellings.