The Indian state of Manipur which is a part of tertiary ranges of the Eastern Himalayas, falls within the ‘Indo-Burma’ centre of biodiversity ‘hotspot’ of global significance. It is the abode of more than 30 ethnic groups closely associated with nature in their day-to-day life. They hugely rely upon their needs for food, shelter, firewood, fodder, healthcare, water, religious or cultural needs from the surrounding forest resources and have rich knowledge of its judicious utilization and conservation. Diverse and unique food habits ranging from diversity of cuisines, preservation methods, procurement, and cultivation practices are observed. Freshly sourced vegetables preferably from wild or semi-wild habitats are consumed as delicacies. Incorporation and reliance of fibre-rich, leafy vegetables, wild fruits, fermented food and diverse aromatic plants as fresh spice in local diets, all sourced from local ecosystems have contributed to healthier eating patterns, and evident nutritional and medicinal benefits. In the recent times, due to increase in anthropogenic pressure like overexploitation, forest clearance for human settlements, jhum cultivation, forest fire and possibly due to global climate change, the productivity of the wild plant resources has been decreasing in an alarming rate and is a major cause of concern.