Status and Conservation Management Strategies for Threatened Plants of Jammu and Kashmir

The state of Jammu and Kashmir harbours a rich diversity of economically important plants. A perusal of literature indicates that study pertaining to the diversity, nativity, endemism, rarity, review of in-situ & ex-situ conservation programmes, agrotechniques, medicinal plants in pharmaceutical preparations, trade and problems related to cultivation of threatened plants for conservation and strategy action plan had not been carried out so far. Therefore, in present an attempt has been made to describe 63 species (trees: 07 spp.; shrubs: 09 spp.; herbs: 47 spp.) of threatened plants. Liliaceae, Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Ranunculaceae, Ericaceae, Solanaceae, Polygonaceae, Orchidaceae, Rutaceae, Lauraceae and Gentianaceae are the dominant families. Twenty four families are represented by single species. Different plant parts such as roots/rhizomes/tubers (38 spp.), leaves (17 spp.), whole plant (10 spp.), bark (8 spp.), fruits (5 spp.), seeds (4 spp.), flowers/resin (2 spp., each) and inflorescence/stem (1 spp., each) are used for the treatment of various ailments. Amongst the threatened plants, 49 are native to the Himalayan region, 01 endemic and 17 near endemic to Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). All the described sixty three (63) species have been categorized as Critically Endangered (11 spp.); Endangered (21 spp.); Vulnerable (26 spp.); Near Threatened (02 spp.) and Least Concern (03 spp.) as per new International Union of Conservation of nature and natural resources (IUCN) criteria. Available information on threatened plants was used either traditionally or in pharmaceutical preparation. In- situ and ex- situ conservation initiatives and agrotechniques are reviewed and highlighted the problems related to its conservation. Moreover appropriate strategy and action plan for conservation and management of threatened plants has been suggested

Ethnobotanical Notes on Tree Species of Pir Panjal Biodiversity Park of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri, J&K, India

The documentation of traditional knowledge would appear to be the need of the hour in view of the current demand for herb based products. Documentation serves to ensure the preservation of traditional information for future generations. It is also a step forward in the creation of a database on ethnobotanical notes. An attempt therefore, has been made here to document the indigenous uses of tree species of the Pir Panjal Biodiversity Park of BGSB University. A total of 28 species belonging to 24 genera and 19 families were observed being used traditionally to cure various diseases and having other uses. Out of these, only six species were natives and 22 were non-native of the Indian Himalayan Region

Ethnobotanical Observations in the Mornaula Reserve Forest of Komoun, West Himalaya, India

A field trip was undertaken in the Mornaula Reserve Forest of Kumaun, West Himalaya, India. A collection of plants was made from this reserve forest at an altitude ranging from 1500-2200m amsl. Local people were contacted for the local names and uses of plants growing there. They are used as medicine, edible, fuel, fodder, timber, fiber, making agricultural implements and religious ceremonies

Ethnomedicinal study of plants used to cure skin diseases and healing of wounds in Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary (GWLS), Jammu & Kashmir

327-334Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary (GWLS) hosts large number of medicinal plants and is a rich repository of indigenous knowledge and practices. In present day scenario such indigenous knowledge is disappearing in new generations day by day with the advent of modernization. Therefore, an effort has been made to document the aboriginal uses and practices of plants utilized by the local inhabitants of Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary (GWLS), to treat skin related problems and help in wound healing. A total of 33 plant species belonging to 31 genera and 26 families are used indigenously to cure various skin diseases/wound healing. 22 plant species are non-native and 11 species are native to the Himalayan region. Various plant parts of these species are used to cure aforesaid diseases. Further, such studies would assist in developing a comprehensive database of plant used in various traditional medicinal systems or strengthening the healthcare in the rural ecosystem and also help in conserving the traditional knowledge and practices for posterity

Ethnomedicinal study of plants used to cure skin diseases and healing of wounds in Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary (GWLS), Jammu & Kashmir

Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary (GWLS) hosts large number of medicinal plants and is a rich repository of indigenous knowledge and practices. In present day scenario such indigenous knowledge is disappearing in new generations day by day with the advent of modernization. Therefore, an effort has been made to document the aboriginal uses and practices of plants utilized by the local inhabitants of Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary (GWLS), to treat skin relatedproblems and help in wound healing. A total of 33 plant species belonging to 31 genera and 26 families are used indigenously to cure various skin diseases/wound healing. 22 plant species are non-native and 11 species are native to the Himalayan region. Various plant parts of these species are used to cure aforesaid diseases. Further, such studies would assist in developing a comprehensive database of plant used in various traditional medicinal systems or strengthening the healthcare in the rural ecosystem and also help in conserving the traditional knowledge andpractices for posterity

Indigenous knowledge on bio-resources management for sustainable livelihood by the cold desert people, trans-Himalaya, Ladakh, India

The present study is carried out in Ladakh to document the indigenous knowledge on bio-resources management. People here practice various indigenous techniques for storage, use and management of their local resources. Some of the indigenous practices for storage of cultivated crops (i.e., food grains, vegetables, and fruits), fuel, fodder and several other bioresources in nutshell are described in this paper. The present study not only established the validity of traditional knowledge but also indicates the urgency to use and keep them in a sustainable mode. Indigenous knowledge if not conserved properly will be seriously threatened under pressure of modernization and especially on account of the apathy among the new generation

Diversity, Distribution and Indigenous Uses of the \u3cem\u3eHypericum\u3c/em\u3e Species in Indian Himalayan Region

The genus Hypericum is known worldwide for its traditional and modern uses. Therefore, an attempt has been made to assess the diversity, distribution and indigenous uses of the species of this genus in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). A total of 27 species of Hypericum were recorded from the IHR, of these 17 were economically important. Thirteen species were native to the Himalayan region, 3 were endemic and 6 were near endemic species. Amongst the species, Hypericum perforatum was the most valued species used for fuel, fodder, dying and medicine, and for the extraction of hypericin. Due to over exploitation of this species for the pharmaceutical industries, the natural populations of this species are depleting fast and this species have been placed under vulnerable category of the IUCN. Similarly, due to multiple utility of the H. choisanum, H. oblongifolium and H. sampsonii, these species are also facing high pressures. It is expected that like H. perforatum, other species of Hypericum may have high concentration of hypericin. Therefore, chemical extraction of these species has been suggested for the identification of potential of these species. The population assessment using standard ecological methods and development of propagation protocol have been suggested

Conservation Priority Index of species, communities, and habitats for biodiversity conservation and their management planning: A case study in Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary, Kashmir Himalaya

The present study is an attempt to evaluate the Conservation Priority Index (CPI) of species, habitats, and communities for their conservation and management planning in the Kashmir Himalayas in India. The present study is an attempt to prioritize 361 plant species, 18 plant communities (10 within the forest zone and 08 within the alpine zone), and 07 habitats for conservation planning. Out of the total plant species recorded, 06 species were categorized as critically endangered, 20 endangered, 28 vulnerable, and 98 species to be near threatened. Amongst the forest and alpine communities, Abies pindrow community and Juniperus squamata-Rhododendron anthopogon mixed community showed the maximum CPI values. Amongst the habitats, dry habitats showed the maximum CPI in the sanctuary. The study found that the threatened species positively correlated with the native and endemic species indicating that these species were rigorously affected due to biotic and abiotic stresses. Based on the results of the present study, we propose a practical method for biodiversity conservation and management of protected areas. The approach employs a variety of qualitative and quantitative features to compute CPI in conjunction with phytosociological data. This kind of study will be immensely helpful to forest officials, policy makers, conservators, and researchers for planning better strategies to conserve and manage particular species, communities, and even habitats in protected areas