Jahangeer A. Bhat

Ecological status and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary of Garhwal Himalaya, India

BackgroundHimalayan forests are the most important source of medicinal plants and with useful species for the local people. Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) is situated in the interior part of the Garhwal Himalayan region. The presented study was carried out in Madhmeshwar area of KWLS for the ecological status of medicinal plants and further focused on the ethnomedicinal uses of these plants in the study area.MethodsEcological information about ethnomedicinal plants were collected using random quadrats in a random sampling technique along an altitudinal gradient in the KWLS. Information on medicinal properties of plants encountered in the present study was generated by questionnaire survey and was also compared with relevant literature.ResultsA total of 152 medicinally important plant species were reported, in which 103 were found herbs, 32 shrubs and 17 were tree species which represented 123 genera of 61 families. A total of 18 plant species fell into the rare, endangered (critically endangered) and vulnerable status categories.ConclusionThe present study documented the traditional uses of medicinal plants, their ecological status and importance of these plants in the largest protected area of Garhwal Himalaya. This study can serve as baseline information on medicinal plants and could be helpful to further strengthen the conservation of this important resource.

Ethnomedicinal plants traditionally used in health care practices by inhabitants of Western Himalaya

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Inspite of tremendous advances made in allopathic medicine, herbal practice still plays an important role in management and curing various ailments in remote and rural areas of India. However, traditional knowledge on the use of medicinal plants is eroding day by day and there is a need to document such knowledge, before it is lost forever. The aim of the present study was to document the indigenous and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by local inhabitants in and around Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary of Indian Himalaya for the advancement of biomedical research and development. MATERIALS AND METHODS The intensive field survey was carried out at three different altitudes of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) and its adjoining areas. The inhabitants were interviewed about the local name of plants having ethno-medicinal values, plant parts used, mode of processing/application and preparation and dosage through discussions and semi structured questionnaires. RESULTS A total of 97 medicinal plant species belonging to 52 families and 83 genera were reported for curing various ailments like fever, cough, cold, digestive disorders, constipation, menstrual disorders etc. Out of 97 plant species reported, 21 are rare or threatened. Literature review revealed that 11 out of the 97 plant species are reported with new therapeutic uses. The most frequently utilized plant part was the root/rhizome (33%) followed by leaf (27%). In some cases whole plant was utilized. A few medicinal plants had some veterinary uses also. CONCLUSION The study provides comprehensive information about the eroding indigenous and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by local inhabitants in a part of Western Himalaya, India. The identification of the active ingredients of the plants used by the local people may provide some useful leads for the development of new drugs and such new approaches of traditional knowledge regarding medicinal plants and laboratory analysis might help pharmaceutical industry in new chapters for the wellbeing of mankind.

Diversity and regeneration status of Sarkot Van Panchyat in Garhwal Himalaya, India

We investigated the floristic composition, phytosociological and regeneration status of Sarkot Van Panchyat (community forest) in Chamoli district of Garhwal Himalaya. A total of 52 plant species of 46 genera and 26 families were recorded, which included 12 trees, 18 shrubs and 22 herb species. Quercus leucotrichophora was dominant tree species in sapling and seedling layers, followed by Lyonia ovalifolia and Rhododendron arboreum. Out of 12 tree species, 7 species in seedling stage and 8 species in sapling stage were recorded in the study area. The 44.41% species in the study area showed good regeneration status, 16.66% species were fairly regenerating, and 8.33% species showed poor regeneration status, while 33% species were not regenerating. Number of individuals from lower girth classes (0–10 cm and 10–30 cm) showed decreasing trend with the increase in size of girth class. Shannon index (H) for trees, shrubs and herbs was recorded as 1.82, 2.24 and 2.41 respectively. Simpsons index (CD) was recorded as 0.21, 0.12 and 0.12 for trees, shrubs and herbs respectively. The forest should be divided into compartments for better management purpose and each compartment should be closed for five years to assist regeneration and enrichment planting may also be carried out for sustainable management.

Soil organic carbon stock potential of shrubs, occupying natural Anogeissus latifolia forest in sub- tropical belt of Garhwal Himalaya

The soil organic carbon (SOC) stock in three pure shrub species was compared with the adjacent growing Anogeissus latifolia tree stand to understand the changes occurring in SOC stock as a consequence of degradation of A. latifolia forests. Among the shrubs, Rhus parviflora (168.00 ± 1.60 t ha -1 ) and Lantana camara (164.16 ± 2.08 t ha -1 ) showed higher values of SOC as compared to A. latifolia forest (161.28 ± 3.04 t ha -1 ). However, Carissa spinarum showed lower values (152.64 ± 2.24 t ha -1 ) of SOC compared to A. latifolia. The soils were dominated by sand particles in all shrubs and A. latifolia forest. Forest floor litter mass of R. parviflora and L. camara was 140.4 ± 10.3 g m -2 and 150.3 ± 9.23 g m -

Fuelwood consumption of dhabas (temporary hotels) along an altitudinal gradient in a pilgrim and tourist affected protected area of western Himalaya

ABSTRACT The present study was carried out in a remote area of the Indian Himalayas to assess the biomass use patterns of dhabas (temporary hotels) along an altitudinal gradient in a pilgrimage and tourism affected protected area. The dhaba owners extensively collect fuelwood for various purposes such as cooking, boiling water, and space heating. The study examined factors affecting and resulting from fuelwood usage and collection—including preferred species, gathering patterns, emissions of green house gases due to combustion, and ecological parameters such as density and total basal cover. Open- and close-ended questionnaires were used for interviews with the study subjects. Firewood was reported as the only available energy source in the area. The average fuelwood consumption at three altitudinal sites was 19 kg dhaba−1 day−1 at Site I (1,500–2,000 m asl), 26.62 kg dhaba−1 day−1 at Site II (2,000–2,500 m asl), and 16.74 kg dhaba−1 day−1 at Site III (2,500–3,600 m asl). The five most preferred species for firewood reported by the respondents were: Alnus nepalensis, Lyonia ovalifolia, Quercus floribunda, Pinus roxburghii, and Rhododendron arboreum. The present findings could be used as a baseline for developing various conservation and sustainability measures for protected areas influenced by human populations.

Altitudinal Variation in Species Composition and Soil Properties of Banj Oak and Chir Pine Dominated Forests

The study was carried out in two different forest types viz., Banj oak and Chir pine forests to assess the variation in forest species composition and soil properties along altitudinal gradients in the Garhwal Himalayas. The results of the study showed that between the forests soil moisture was higher in Banj oak forest because of closed canopy and dense forest compared to Chir pine forest. The sand particles were reported higher in Banj oak forest which might be due to the addition of organic matter favouring coarse structure of soil, helping in holding maximum water in soils. However in the Chir pine forest low amount of soil organic matter and presence of clayey soil, develops soil compactness which reduces the penetration of water resulting in high soil bulk density. The higher accumulation of litter and presence of moisture in Banj oak forest favours higher nutrient level of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compared to Chir pine forest. The soil organic carbon also reduced with increasing altitude at both gradients. While bulk density has reverse trend with soil organic carbon in both the forests at different peaks of same region. In Banj oak forest, the highest density and total basal cover was reported 1,100 tree ha -1 and 58.86 m 2 ha -1 respectively. However, the highest values of density and total basal cover of Chir pine forest was 560 tree ha -1 and 56.94 m 2 ha -1 respectively. The total density and basal cover of both the forests reduced with increasing altitude. The study concludes that Banj oak forest has better nutrient cycling ability, well developed forest floor and has a greater protective and productive features compared to the Chir pine forest which is without lower vegetation cover and having only pine litter accumulation which does not allow any other species to grow.