Evaluating the importance of local food plants through citizen science: A Luvi-based assessment in agroforestry systems of Gorontalo

Understanding the importance of local food plants is essential for strengthening biodiversity-based food systems, particularly in communities that rely on agroforestry. This study aims to examine how local people perceive the importance of food plants using the Local User Value Index through a citizen science approach. The research employed participatory methods involving community members in identifying, discussing, and scoring food plant species based on their daily use, cultural relevance, and contribution to household food security. Data were collected through field observation, group discussions, and structured valuation activities, and the Local User Value Index was applied to quantify perceived importance. The findings reveal significant variation in food plant valuation between villages and gender groups, reflecting ecological conditions, cultural practices, and livelihood strategies. Maize emerged as the most important food species in both locations, underscoring its central role in local subsistence and income generation. Fruit-bearing species showed higher importance in areas with more diverse agroforestry systems, and women assigned greater value to plants associated with household nutrition and daily food preparation. The participatory process demonstrated that local knowledge provides nuanced insights into the multifunctional roles of food plants that cannot be captured through ecological surveys alone. These results highlight the need to integrate community-defined priorities into sustainable food planning and biodiversity-based agricultural strategies, and demonstrate the value of citizen science for documenting and strengthening local food systems.