PAID ACCESS | Published on : 23-Jan-2026 | Pages: 49-64 |
Bio-fencing, or biological fencing, involves the use of living plants to create natural boundaries around agricultural fields, homes, or institutions. Beyond their ecological and agricultural benefits, certain bio-fencing plants also possess medicinal properties that can play a role in controlling human diseases either directly (via medicinal use) or indirectly (by acting as vectors for disease prevention).Living fences have been an integral part of our traditional practices in India and as we dive deeper into indigenous wisdom, we get to experience a highly diverse range of plants that not only create fences but also are sources of yield and self-contained ecosystems. From building privacy hedges to deterring wild animals and cattle, they always come in handy as an affordable solution for the local farming communities. Some bio-fencing plants also help reduce the prevalence of disease vectors, such as: Reducing mosquito breeding (e.g., Neem, Jatropha), Preventing rodent entry (due to dense/thorny growth), Improving air quality through natural filtration.
Biological fencing, Medicinal properties, Ecosystems, Ecological, Agricultural benefits
Bhattarai, S., Chaudhary, R. P., & Taylor, R. S. L. (2007). Plants used as fence and fuelwood in Manang district, Central Nepal. Scientia World, 5, 107–111.
Borkataki, S., Chutia, M., & Borthakur, S. K. (2008). Ethnobotany of biofencing among teagarden and ex-teagarden communities of Nagaon district of Assam. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 7, 666–668.
Devajana, C. N., Nanjunda, V. G. P., Dinesh, P. T., & Mahadeviah, V. N. (2011). Use of various bio-fencing plants to cure human diseases by the Yrava ethnic group of Coorg District, Karnataka, India. Afro Asian Journal of Anthropology and Social Policy, 2(1), 52–58.
Jain, S. K. (2004). Credibility of traditional knowledge: The criterion of multinational and multi-ethnic use. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 3, 137–153.
Mishra, S., Vasudevan, P., & Prasad, S. (2011). Biofencing: An ecofriendly boundary wall. Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research, 70, 727–731.
Vellankanni, K., & Saravana Ganthi, A. (2022). A study on flora of biofences in selected villages of Tenkasi District. International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods, 10(4), 1637–1640.
Vijaya Bhasker Reddy. (2008). Use of various bio-fencing plants in the control of human diseases by the Lambada tribe inhabiting Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Ethnobotanical Leaflets, 12, 520–523.
