Diversity, indigenous uses and conservation prioritization of medicinal plants in Lahaul valley, proposed Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve, India

Abstract

The Cold Desert of India is known for specific topography, severe climate and unique vegetation. The Lahaul valley in Himachal Pradesh, part of a proposed Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve, is rich in medicinal plants, and local people practice the Tibetan System of Medicine. A few studies are available on medicinal plants there are no integrated studies. A total of 354 medicinal plants, belonging to 208 genera and 76 families were recorded. The area ranges in altitude between 2801-3800 m, and shady moist and forested habitats were identified as having the most medicinal plant species. The occurrence of near endemic, endemic, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable and near threatened species indicates high anthropogenic pressure and that the area has high conservation value. Most of these species are commercially viable. An assessment of populations of threatened species using standard ecological methods, and notification of key areas as medicinal plants conservation areas is suggested. Also, mass reproduction for ex situ conservation and to ensure availability of quality planting material for cultivation, together with education and awareness programmes for large-scale cultivation are suggested.

Prioritization of habitats and communities for conservation in Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve, Trans Himalaya, India

“…Inhabitants use plants/plant part(s) for food (edibles), medicine, fuel, fodder, timber, fiber, making agricultural tools, religious and various other purposes. Also, thorough literature survey was carried out for the economic importance of the species (Aswal & Mehrotra, ; Chandrasekar & Srivastava, ; Murti ; M. S. Rana & Samant, ; Samant et al, ; Samant, Singh, Lal, & Sharma, ; A. Singh, ; M. Singh, ; A. Singh, Lal, & Samant, ; A. Singh et al, ; Sood, Nath, & Kalia, ; Srivastava, Kapahi, & Sarin, ). Threatened species were identified based on habitat specificity, population size, distribution range (DR), use value, extraction, nativity and endemism of the taxa (M. S. Rana & Samant, ).…”

Observations on Traditional Phytotherapy among the Inhabitants of Lahaul Valley through Amchi System of Medicine—A Cold Desert Area of Himachal Pradesh in North Western Himalayas, India

“…In total, 354 species of medicinal and aromatic plants belonging to 208 genera and 76 families were recorded from the Lahaul valley [15][16][17]. Out of the total 79 plant species of medicinal and aromatic plants belonging to 37 families and 64 genera have been discussed in the present paper which are used to cure more than two diseases ( Table 1).…”

Traditional and indigenous uses of medicinal plants by local residents in Himachal Pradesh, North Western Himalaya, India

“…But, due to overexploitation and habitat degradation, the population of most of the economically important species is decreasing fast (Samant et al 2007;Singh et al 2009;Rana & Samant 2011a). Also due to modernization, the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants is vanishing fast.…”

“…An anonymous source and Samant et al (1998) were also consulted for determining the nomenclature and nativity. Endemism of the species was identified based on bio-geographical distribution; species restricted to the IHR were identified as endemic, while those species also found in adjacent Himalayan countries (Himalayan region of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and adjacent states of the IHR) were identified as near-endemic (Dhar & Samant 1993;Samant et al 1998;Singh et al 2009). …”

“…The preservation of indigenous knowledge has become an urgent need for the society. In the IHR, a number of studies have been carried out on the documentation of medicinal plants diversity (e.g., Jain 1991; Maikhuri et al 1998;Samant et al 1998;Chauhan 1999;Joshi et al 1999;Sood et al 2001;Dhar et al 2002;Samant & Pal 2003;Seth & Jaswal 2004;Rawat 2005;Rawat & Garg 2005;Kala 2006;Samant & Pant 2006;Uniyal et al 2006;Samant et al 2007Samant et al , 2011Rawat et al 2009;Singh et al 2009;Semwal et al 2010). In general, studies on medicinal plants in the Kullu district have been carried out on diversity, distribution pattern, and indigenous uses (Singh 2004;Boktapa & Sharma 2010;Rana & Samant 2011a, etc.…”