Threat Assessment and Prioritization of High-Value Medicinal Plants in Pindari Valley, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, India

Abstract

The communication assesses the high-value medicinal plants reported in Pindari Valley, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand, using a score-based method for prioritization and conservation. A total of 42 high-value medicinal plants were assessed, prioritized and scored on the basis of rapid threat assessment. Maximum threat was recorded for Aconitum heterophyllum followed by Picrorhiza kurrooa and Nardostachys jatamansi given their limited number of individuals observed in the study area as well as high utilization patterns. Minimum threat status was recorded for Epilobium angustifolium, where the species was found in higher density in its natural habitat. Among the recorded species, 64% were observed growing in grassland/alpine pastures and open/alpine slopes. 55% of species were native/endemic to Himalaya and 48% were extracted by the inhabitants. Underground portions (roots/rhizomes/tubers) of 40% of the species were utilized leading to destruction in natural habitat. Out of 42 medicinal plants, 16 species have been prioritized for conservation and recognized in different threat categories and most of these species are collected from natural habitat without scientific knowledge. Conclusion of the study might helpful for identifying threatened plants in the region so as to initiate sustainable use and conservation practices of high-value medicinal plant resources. CONTACT Dhani Arya [email protected] Department of Botany, Soban Singh Jeena University-Almora, 263 601, Uttarakhand, India. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Enviro Research Publishers. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons license: Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY). Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.16.1.24 Article History Received: 17 July 2020 Accepted: 22 February 2021