The contribution of herbs to the quality of life: The case of Evros prefecture (A first approach)

Herbs (aromatic, edible, medicinal plants) constitute an important natural resource. They are mostly used for medicinal purposes as they contain antioxidants, vitamins and trace elements. They have numerous other applications in aromatherapy, in human nutrition and in cosmetics. Additionally, they support agricultural activities such as apiculture and livestock farming. The aim of this paper was to investigate the attitudes of the local people in a remote rural area regarding the contribution of herb resources in the quality of their life, and to indicate the typology of these attitudes. The study was conducted in the area of Evros prefecture, Greece, with the use of a specially designed questionnaire. The data was processed using the methods of descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis. The results indicated that local people recognize the contribution of herb resources in human health and that they are products of high nutritional value. The inadequate management and wildfires were recognized as major threats. Finally, people value all of the intended benefits that herb resources offer and especially the protection of nature and the landscape and the enhancement of well being through healthy nutrition. The implementation of the non – linear analysis in principal components with optimal scaling method reveal that local people of Evros prefecture can be grouped according to their attitudes towards herb resources.