Phytotherapeutic and Ethno-botanical Importance of Plant Biodiversity of Dachigam National Park, Kashmir

Arif Yaqoob; Singh DP; Mohammad Yunus; Bhat GA

doi:10.21767/2348-9502.1000012

Phytotherapeutic and Ethno-botanical Importance of Plant Biodiversity of Dachigam National Park, Kashmir

Arif Yaqoob^1*, Singh DP², Mohammad Yunus³ and Bhat GA³

¹Department of Environmental Science, BBAU, Lucknow (U.P), India

²Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, Rampur (U.P), India

³Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar (J&K), India

*Corresponding Author:: Yaqoob A
Department of Environmental Science
BBAU, Lucknow (U.P), India
Tel: 9906081414
E-mail: arifmalikenv@gmail.com

Received Date: August 07, 2017; Accepted Date: August 22, 2017; Published Date: August 29, 2017

Visit for more related articles at American Journal of Ethnomedicine

Abstract

Objectives: A rich plant diversity is being supported by Himalayan mountain ecosystems including many endemic and endangered species that which has been used by the indigenous populations for traditional health care remedies for many years. These communities also depend on mountain resources for their livelihood in terms of collection and sale of medicinal plants and other basic requirements. A study on the important plant communities of scrub ecosystems was carried out with special aim of phytosociological evaluation, preparation of ethnobotanical, ethnomedicinal, ethnoveterinay and ethnocosmetic inventory and evaluation of conservation status of important medicinal plants.
Materials and methods: Data was collected by semi structured, structured interviews and questionnaire methods coupled with group meetings, field discussions on different topics with the people especially local vaids, households, herbal healers and pastoralists.
Results and discussion: Data collected from the present investigation indicate that 80 plants belonging to 38 families with Rosaceae the dominant family were exclusively used in traditional healthcare system. The knowledge on medicinal plant distribution, habitat, uses, part used and mode of preparation for use is like a prized ancient wisdom preserved within elders and women folk of the ethnic groups. Different degrees of threats were observed to different valuable medicinal plants during the period of investigation.
Conclusion: The people of the area are exclusively dependent on medicinal plants using traditional knowledge that provide them the best therapeutic and economic benefits. Such traditional knowledge could be valuable for developing local and regional conservation strategies for these fragile ecosystems. There is an urgent need to thoroughly analyze the secondary metabolite properties of such plants in order to validate their authenticity in the local health care systems. Recommendations are also given for monitoring and sustainable collection of medicinal plant resources so as to avoid their overexploitation and to preserve such dwindling plant wealth along with unique ecosystems.

Keywords

Ethnobotany; Traditional knowledge; Scrub; Medicinal plants; Conservation; Dachigam

Introduction

Ethnobotany is one of the valuable cultural heritages of an area that involves the interaction between plants and people and foremost among these are the traditional use of medicinal plants and sustainable management of plant biodiversity by these indigenous communities [1]. The recent gradual shift to the natural medicine worldwide has also highlighted the importance of compiling information about medicinal plant species used by ethnic and indigenous communities [2,3]. A plant that possesses therapeutic properties naturally synthesizes and accumulates some secondary metabolites like alkaloids, glycosides, volatile oils, vitamins and minerals in different body parts such as leaves, fruits, seeds, rhizome etc., Ahmad et al. [4] and Ahmad et al. [5] possesses a special importance in these mountain ecosystems [6].These plants play a significant role in providing health care and improving economy of the country [7].

Traditional knowledge is a cultural asset which can be used for the recognition and preservation of valuable species as well as habitats in long-term management [1,8]. As increased market demand for herbal medicine and recent controversies regarding biopiracy, such documentation and compilation of ethno ecological knowledge is of top priority [9,10]. Moreover, integrating traditional knowledge is gaining importance in many parts of the world Ahmad, et al. [2] Mutenje, et al. [11] and people having long term associations with vegetation can provide a valuable observation Tarrason [12] for conservation and management plans for vegetation of these ecosystems that give food security to indigenous as well as people of low lands Rasul [13] and Sharma, et al. [14] Apart from plants being social and ecological indicators when employed together with traditional knowledge can play a significant role in conservation strategy designing [15]. Ethno ecological knowledge if supplemented with the latest scientific insights can provide new dimensions of sustainable development that environmentally, economically and socially acceptable Murtem [16] and Shinwari [7] and effective tools against the scenario of climate change and economic instability [17].

Since only a few studies have been carried out regarding ethnobotanical uses of plants growing in the Kashmir Himalaya Akhtar, et al. [18] and Khan [19] and particularly no such work has been carried out on scrub ecosystems. Hence, the current study was undertaken to prepare an ethnobotanical inventory of the plant resources of the study area that will prove to be beneficial for both traditional communities as well as sustainable ecosystem functioning.

Materials and Methods

Study area

Dachigam National Park is located within the heart of Kashmir Himalaya located at the North West tip of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. The study was conducted during Jan-Dec 2010.

Regular field trips were organized in the study area from Jan-Dec, 2010 to document the ethnobotanical uses of plants of scrub areas of Dachigam National Park, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The plant species growing in different months were collected in different months in different flowering/fruiting stages and the plant material was processed as per standard herbarium technique [20]. The preliminary identification was done with the help of local flora and rests of the specimens were identified at center of taxonomy department of Botany, University of Kashmir.

Regular trips were made on monthly basis throughout the year in different altitudinal zones and the ethnobotanical information was collected by semi structured, unstructured, formal and informal interviews and questionnaire to compile information about different aspects of plants such as local name, local uses, part used, method of collection, collection time, mode of administration , curative properties and method of preparation etc,. Generally, the respondents were elderly people especially women, local vaids and herbal healers in the neighborhood of the study area. About 150 households and 100 vaids and herbal healers were interviewed and the information was documented through questionnaire. In addition, the pastoralists migrating to the area during summer for grazing were also contacted and interviewed about the plant resources they use during their stay in the area.

Results

Vegetation analysis

Variation in the vegetation pattern of the area was observed due to change in aspect, altitude and microclimatic conditions. The existence of five plant communities being the result of interaction of biotic and abiotic factors within the microhabitats.

All these were shrub-herb communities which are the true representatives of a typical scrub ecosystem. Table 1. reveals that three communities viz Plectranthus rugosa-Rosa webbiana- Thymus linearis, Indigofera heterantha-Clematis Montana- Themeda anathera, Jumiprus wallichiana-Juniprus communis- Poa astraguinia were south facing and two communities viz Plectranthus rugosa-Ziziphus jujube-Filago arvensis, Indigofera heterantha-Berberis lyceum-Filago arvensis were west facing slopes which indicates a complex relationship of vegetation to the position, altitude and aspect of the landscape.

Table 1: Ethnobotanical uses of plants.

S.No	Species	Local Name	Family	Part Used	Name of the disease/other medicinal importance
1	Adiantum capilus veneris	Gew theer	Pteridaceae	Shoot	Shoot is boiled for one hour with sugar and the decoction is used for treatment of prolonged cough and asthma.
2	Artemesia scoparia	Tethwen	Asteraceae	leaves	Extract from leaves mixed with water taken orally to treat uneven menstrual cycles
3	Artemesia vulgare	Teth wen	Asteraceae	Shoot	Extracts from crushed leaves are used against endoparasites in children
4	Acilllia millefolium	Berguer	Asteraceae	Leaves	Dried leaves are taken to relieve headache and constipation, fresh leaves are chewed to relieve toothache, extract mixed with wheat flour is used to treat snake bites
5	Anemona obtusiloba	NA	Ranunculaceae		Paste made from tender dried leaves is occasionally taken to relieve menstrual pain in teen agers
6	Berberis lyceum	Kawduchh	Berberidaceae	Fruits,roots,leaves	Fruits are eaten, roots used in piles and leaves are used in jaundice, Fruit juice is used to relieve gum and tooth ache
7	Cotoneaster nummilaria	Leun	Rosaceae	Whole plant	Fuel/Art and craft
8	Capsella bursa pastrolis	Kralmond	Brassicaceae	Tender leaves	Leaves are cooked and taken with meals
9	Crategus songarica	NA	Capridaceae	Fruits	Edible fruits used in jams and jellies, fruit extract is used as cardiac tonic
10	Clematis grata	NA	Ranunculaceae	Leaves	Leaves used as fresh fodder, chopped leaves when smelled cause nausea
11	Colchicum leuteum	Janglikong/Verkin	Lilliaceae	Bulbs	Powder of the ground corms mixed with ghee is used to treat inflammation and joint pain, stigma of flowers is used as a dye in local tea-kehwa
12	Codonopsis ovate	NA	Campanulaceae	Leaves, Roots	Roots and leaves are said to be used in the form of poultices for the treatment of ulcers and wounds
13	Dipsacus inermis	Wopalhawk	Dipsacaceae	Leaves	Religious ceremonies, shade dried leaves are used as vegetables and sexual tonic
14	Dioscorea deltoids	Kraeth	Dioscoreaceae	Rhizome	Dried rhizome fried in ghee is taken before breakfast to treat kidney problems, mixed with milk and taken orally to treat menstrual cramps
15	Elaeagnus spp.	NA	Elaeagnaceae	Fruits	Fruits being edible are eaten
16	Fragaria nubicola	Jangli Istaber	Rosaceae	Ripe Fruits	People take this fruit as it is delicious when ripe
17	Galium aparine	NA	Rubiaceae	Seeds	Seeds are grinded and substituted for coffee
18	Geranium wallichianum	NA	Geraniaceae	Rhizome	Rhizomes are powdered and mixed with sugar and prepared in ghee and the preparation is given as tonic for backache
19	Hypericum perforatum	NA	Hypericaceae	Leaves	Leaves are used to make local tea to reduce burning sensation during urine infection
20	Indigofera heterantha	Kats	Paplionaceae	Stem	Art and craft, sweeping material, firewood, mouth blisters, Powdered roots taken with milk to treat headache
21	Iris hookriana	Besal	Iridaceae	Rhizome	Powdered rhizome is mixed with milk to treat constipation
22	Juniprus communis	Wethur	Juniperaceaae	Whole plant	Fuelwood, Fruit helps in digestion and relieves gas
23	Jasminum humile	Chamayli	Oleaceae	Shoot	Ornamental, extracts from flowers is used as mouth freshener
24	Jurinea ceratocarpa	Gogaldhup	Asteraceae	Leaves	Religious ceremonies
25	Lavetera kashmiriana	Sozposh	Malvaceae	Flowers	Powder of dried flowers is mixed with milk and used for the treatment of mumps in children
26	Lonicera quinquelocularis	Pakhur	Caprifoliaceae	Leaves, branches	Fodder, earlier branches were used to make arrow shafts
27	Malva neglecta	Sotsal	Malvaceae	Shoot	Leaves and young shoots are cooked as vegetable, seeds boiled in sugar water are used against cough and fever
28	Marubium vulgare		Lamiaceae	Leaves	Leaf extract is used as eye drop, to treat ophthalmic infections
29	Nasturtium officinale	Kulhaak	Brassicaceae	Young leaves	Leaves are cooked and taken as vegetables and used in salad, leaf juice used in stomach ulcers
30	Oxalis corniculata	choak chin	Oxalidaceae	Whole plant	Whole plant is as vegetable, extract from leaves is mixed with sugar and used in jaundice, juice used for making cheese
31	Parrotiopsis jacqemontiana	Hatab	Hamemelidaceae	Whole plant	Firewood, Leaves used as fodder, stem used for making handles of plough, axes, sickle and saw
32	Polygonum plebeum	Drouba	Polygonaceae	Leaves	Young leaves are cooked and used as vegetable
33	Polygonum alpinum	NA	Polygonaceae	Above ground parts	Tender leaves and stem are cooked after washing with hot water
34	Poa bulbosa	NA	Poaceae	Shoot	Fodder
35	Podophyllum hexandrum	Wanwangun	Podophyllaceae	Fruits	Fruits are eaten, Rhizome is used in the treatment of cancer
36	Prunella vulgaris	Kalveoth	Lamiaceae	Flowers	Religious ceremonies
37	Prunus prostrata	Gurdaal	Rosaceae	Fruits	Fruits (rich in vitanim c) are eaten
38	Plectranthus rugosa	NA	Lamiaceae	Whole plant	fuelwood, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, used in jaundice
39	Plantigo major	Gulla	Plantaginaceae	Leaves	Tender leaves are cooked as vegetables, leave infusion used to reduce excessive bleeding during periods.
40	Rheumwebbianum	Pambhaak	Polygonaceae	Leaves	Tender leaves are used in chutney and salad and stalks are cooked and used as vegetable, Rhizome is used to treat burned skin
41	Rhododendron anthopogon	Vethur	Ericaceae	Leaves	Leaves are sometimes used for making tea
42	Rumex acetosella	Obij	Polygonaceae	Young leaves and stem	Washed with hot water to remove sour taste and then cooked like spinach and taken as vegetable.Leaves used in chutney
43	Rumex patienta	Jangli Obuj	Polygonaceae	Leaves	Occasionally it is an ingredient of Chutney
44	Rosa webbiana	Jangli gulab	Rosaceae	Fruits	Fruits are eaten rarely
45	Rubus fruticosus	Chanch	Rosaceae	Fruits	Fruits are eaten to improve digestion power
46	Rubus ellipticus	Allaj	Rosaceae	Whole plant	Fruits are edible, plant used for hedges and fences
47	Salvia moorcraftiana	NA	Lamiaceae	Leaves	Leaves are warmed with oil and applied on swollen areas to release pus, honey bee plant
48	Setaria viridis	NA	Poaceae	Shoot	Fresh and dried fodder
49	Sibbaldia cunneata	NA	Rosaceae	Leaves	Juice of the leaves is used for making tea rarely
50	Sorborea tomentosa	NA	Rosaceae	Flower	Inflorescence is mixed with mustard oil and applied on skin to remove rashes
51	Taraxicum officinale	Handh	Asteraceae	Leaves	Cooked and used as vegetable, flowers are boiled and mixed with honey to treat cough, special diet for ladies who have undergone abortion
52	Trifolium pretense	Batak Neur	Paplionaceae	Leaves	Fodder, leaves are rarely cooked as vegetables
53	Trifolium repens	Batak Neur	Paplionaceae	Shoot	Fodder, dried flowers and seeds are used to treat cough and cold
54	Thymus linearis	Ujwain	Lamiaceae	Whole plant	Used to add flavour to Achar, flowers used to make tea, decoction of leaves used against dysentery
55	Verbascum thapsus	Tamokh	Plantigenaceae	Leaves	Inflorescence is used as tobacco and leaves are used to make bedi-a local cigarette
56	Viburnum grandiflorum	Kulmauch	Caprifoliaceae	Leaves and fruits	Fodder, fruits are eaten
57	Viola betanosifolia	Bunafsha	Violaceae	Flowers	Flowers are eaten and its soup is used as substitute for tea
58	Viola biflora	Bunafsha	Violaceae	Flowers	Its soup is used as a substitute for tea, used in making khameer(a type of jam), for treatment of cough and cold
59	Ziziphus jujuba	Bar Kund	Rhamnaceaae	Berries	Fruits are eaten, dried fruits are used as blood purifier

Where NA: Not Available.

Vegetation types of south facing slopes

Plectranthus rugosa-Rosa webbiana-Thymus linearis: This community faces south slopes at an elevation of 1944 m and ranges from 2 cm to 6 feet in height. It covers 89% of the ground (45% by herbs and 44% by shrubs) and showed the presence of other species such as Berberis lyceum, Daphne mucronata, Rosa webbiuana, Artemesia Scoparia, Anemone obtusiloba, Colchicum lutuim and Ajuga parviflora among the medicinally important plants.

Indigofera heterantha-Clematis Montana-Themeda anathera: This community occures at an elevation of 2630 m facing south slope. It is characterized by Jasminum humile, Rubus niveus, Sarbaria tomentosa, Adiantum cappilus-venris, Dioscorea deltoids and Hypericum perforatum as important medicinal plants. It covers 95% of ground (75% by herbs and 20% by shrubs) and attains a height from 8 cm to 11 feet.

Jumiprus wallichiana-Juniprus communis-Poa astraguinia: This community occures at alpine area and is characterized by Rhododendron, Iris hookriana, podophyllum hexandrum, Sassurea lappa and Rheum webbianum as commercially important medicinal plants. The community occures in south facing slopes at an elevation of 3810 m. The height of the community ranges from 3 cm to 4 feet covering 92% of ground (70% by herbs and 22% by shrubs).

Vegetations of west facing slopes

Plectranthus rugosa-Ziziphus jujube-Filago arvensis: The community is present in the west facing slope at an elevation of 1620 m and attains a height ranging from 1 cmm to 4.5 feet covering 85% of area (52% by herbs and 33% by shrubs). Some commercially important plants are Jurenia ceratocarpa, Oxalis corniculata, Marubbium vulgare, Verbascum Thapsus, Salvia moorcraftiana and Plantigo major.

Indigofera heterantha-Berberis lyceum-Filago arvensis: The community is reported from the west facing slope with an altitude of 1818 m and covers about 91% of ground (52% by herbs and 33% by shrubs). It attains a height from 3 cm to 9 feet with Rubus lasciocarpus, Vibernum grandiflorum, Corrydalis rotifolis, Malwa neglecta and Taraxicum officinale as important medicinal plants being commercially used.

Distribution and availability: The scrub area is a rich abode of medicinal plants which are decreasing day by day due to increasing biotic pressures such as deforestation, grazing, unregulated collection and overexploitation by pastoralists. Although the thorny and prickly species are resistant to grazing pressures but rest of the herbs are sensitive to it. Species like Berberis lyceum and Artemesia Scoparia were present in most of the areas while as Podophyllum hexandrum, Iris hookriana, Bergenia ciliata, Sassurea lappa, Dioscorea deltoids were reported at few places of the study area with Dryopteris balanfordii and Adiantum cappilus-veneris being restricted to moist locations.

Ethnobotanical Survey

The study revealed that scrub ecosystem harbor a diverse plant wealth valuable for ethnoecological knowledge. Tables 2 and 3. The present investigation revealed the presence of 187 plant species of which 182 are angiosperms, 2 are gymnosperms and 3 are pteridophytes. The survey reveals that 78 species belonging to 39 families are exclusively being used by locals for ethnobotanical purposes. The plant species were grouped into Ethnobotanical (54), Ethnomedicinal (38), Ethnoveterinay (08) and Ethnocosmetic (10). Most of the species are used for both ethnobotanical as well as ethnomedicinal purposes.

Table 2: Ethnomedicinal uses of plants.

S.No	Species	Family	Part Used	Name of the disease/other medicinal use
1	Achillea millefolium	Asteraceae	Leaves	Tonic
3	Ajuga parviflora	Lamiaceae	Whole plant	Diuretic, antispasmodic and tonic, mouth blisters, cataract
4	Asparagus filicinus	Asparagaceae	Whole plant	Indigestion and gastric problems
5	Anemone obtusiloba	Ranunculaceae	Aerial parts	Nasal troubles
6	Artemesia absinthium	Astereaceae	Whole plant	Antihelmenthic, anti-inflammatory
7	Berberis lyceum	Berberidaceae	Root and bark	Urethral spleenic troubles, febrifuge, intestinal colic, antispasmodic. Bark is astringent
8	Bergenia ciliata	Saxifragaceae	Root	Roots are laxative, astringent, diuretic and tonic
9	Bupleurum longicanle	Apiaceae	Aerial parts	Abdominal inflammation, indigestion, malarial fever
10	Cardamine impatiens	Brassicaceae	Aerial parts	Nervous diseases
11	Codonopsis ovate	Campanulaceae	Roots	Antiseptic
12	Colchicum luteum	Lilliaceae	Corm	Rheumatism and antigout
13	Dioscorea deltoids	Dioscoreaceae	Rhizome	Rheumatic, ophthalmic disorders and expelling worms
14	Elaeagnus spp.	Elaeagnaceae	Above ground parts	Eye diseases
15	Frageria nubicola	Rosaceae	Whole plant	External parasites
16	Geranium pretense	Geraniaceae	Aerial parts	Fever, urinary troubles
17	Geranium wallichianum	Geraniaceae	Root	Stomach disorders, gonorrhea and ophthalmic, bone fractures
18	Hypericum perforatum	Hypericaceae	Leaves	Antiviral, inhibits leukemia viruses
19	Lavatera kashmiriana	Malvaceae	Whole plant	Laxative
20	Lotus corniculatus	Fabaceae	Whole plant	Asthma
21	Malva neglecta	Malvaceae	Leaf/petioles	Laxative and demulcent
22	Origanum vulgare	Lamiaceae	Whole plant	Carminative, diuretic and diaphoretics, relieves dairrhoea and dysentery
23	Oxalis corniculata	Oxalidaceae	Aerial parts	Pimple, swelling, eye diseases
24	Pimpnella diversifolia	Apiaceae	Whole plant	Lactation, indigestion and stomach disorders
26	Plectranthus rugosa	Lamiaceae	Leaves	Antiseptic , anti-inflammatory, used in jaundice
27	Prunella vulgaris	Lamiaceae	Whole plant	Antiseptic, expectorant, antirheumatic and antispasmodic
28	Rheum webbiana	Polygonaceae	Rhizome,roots	Laxative, purgative and tonic
29	Rosa brunoni	Rosaceae	Seeds, fruits	Diarrhoea and abortion
30	Rubus ellipticus	Rosaceae	Fruits	Haematuria
31	Rubia cardifolia	Rubiaceae	Whole plant	Rheumatism and antihelmenthic
32	Taraxacum officinale	Asteraceae	Roots/leaves/flowers	Tonic used in fractures, used in kidney and liver disorders
33	Thymus linearis	Lamiaceae	Leaves	Scalp conditioner
34	Torollis japonica	Apiaceae	Seeds	during retention of urine
35	Trifolium repens	Paplionaceae	Whole plant	Nervous diseases
37	Viola odorata	Violaceae	Whole plant	Bronchitis
38	Viola biflora	Violaceae	Flowers	Skin and heart diseases, liver disorders

Table 3: Community types characterized by the physical features of the study area.

Community type	Landscape Nature	Plant stand	Altitude(m)	Aspect	Vegetation Cover (%)
Plectranthus- Rosa-Thymus	Steep Slope	Shrub and Herb	1944	S	89
Indigofera -Clematis-Themeda	Mild Slope	Shrub and Herb	2630	S	95
Jumiprus-Juniprus-Poa	Steep Slope	Shrub and Herb	3810	S	92
Plectranthus-Ziziphus-Filago	Steep Slope	Shrub and Herb	1620	W	85
Indigofera- Berberis-Filago	Flat Slope	Shrub and Herb	1818	W	91

Discussion

The present investigation states that topography, edaphic features and biotic stresses determine the shape, distribution pattern and community setup within a given climatic zone. Our study confirms that the scrub vegetation offer valuable ecosystem services to ethnic groups of the region. The questionnaire and RAA analyses indicate that the inhabitants of Kashmir Himalaya possess prized knowledge about the local plant biodiversity and the services it provides are significantly important to them. The plant species are utilized by the ethnic groups as per their traditional knowledge. Different plant parts such as leaves, roots, seeds, flowers, rhizome etc., are used to cure common human ailments while as few others are either used to treat livestock diseases or used as cosmetic substitutes [21]. Absence of market, poverty and climatic constraints make the ethnic groups chiefly dependent on many different species to supplement their diet in terms of vegetables and wild edibles [22].

As most of the herb species are sensitive to grazing and harvesting; their existence in the community may provide a significant indication of presence of other keystone species such as thorny and prickly shrub species that provide (nurse effect) conducive habitat for such herbs Sher H [23] Plants provide food, fodder, fiber, medicines etc, and these global resources are used ruthlessly especially in Kashmir Himalaya where the quality as well as quantity of such resources is deteriorating more rapidly [1,24]. Besides poverty, ignorance, unemployment, lack of awareness; human interferences have exerted enormous stresses on vegetation and caused environmental degradation [25,26]. Due to their economic and medicinal valuability, these plant species are ruthlessly being collected that has threatened the survival of certain plant species such as Podophyllum hexandrum and Sassurea lappa etc., which are endangered while as Iris hookriana, Rheum webbianum etc., are threatened species. Among medicinal plants Bergenia celiata, Podophyllum hexandrum, Dioscorea deltoids, and Rheum webbianim were once widely used but now they are restricted in occurrence due to overexploitation for their unique medicinal properties [23].

There is a lack of proper management structure for sustainable collection and utilization of medicinal plants which has put the regeneration potential of these plants at risk and ultimately not only the conservation status of many plants is under threat but also the livelihood of thousands of indigenous people who depend upon gathering and sale of medicinal plants [27,28]. However, it is a high time to realize that traditional knowledge coupled with modern innovative approaches are important for sustainable development and management of biodiversity to sustain the livelihood of traditional communities [18,29].

Conclusion

The study concluded that locals are highly dependent on medicinal plants but many plants need to be clinically tested for their secondary metabolites and additional investigation on the ethnobotanical studies of the plants will strive to elucidate specific uses, mode of preparation and administration for future economic and cultural uses [30-36]. Further, the intensity and acquisition of such knowledge is fading away among youth due to their changed lifestyle and reliance on chemical medicines [37-39]. Documentation of such prized knowledge could be useful to formulate popular conservation technique-ethno conservation. Moreover, the present protocol was used as a technique to form a base for making useful recommendations to both public and private sectors for rising an awareness at local and country level with an urge to conserve such unique ecosystems.

Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely acknowledge the respondents especially the local healers, Vaids, ethnic people, staff of Dachigam National Park, Transhumance and pastoralists. We are grateful to the Head Department of Environmental Science, BBA Central University to permit us to carry out the study in the national Park. Special thanks go to Prof A. R Nakshi and Akhtar Hussain Malik, Center of Taxonomy, University of Kashmir for their taxonomical assistance.

References

Gaikwad J, Wilson PD, Rangnathan S (2011) Ecological niche modeling of customary medicinal plant species used by Australian aborigines to identify species rich and culturally valuable areas of conservation. Ecological Modelling 222: 3437-3443.
Dong S,Wen L, Zhu L, Li X (2010) Implication of coupled human implications inn sustainable rangeland ecosystem management in HKN region. Frontier Earth Science China.
Vacker D, Brink B, Loh, J, Baillie JEM, Rayers B (2012) Review of multispecies indices for monitoring human impacts on biodiversity. Ecological indicators 17: 58-67.
Ahmad M, Khan MA, Rashid U, Zaffar M, Arshad M, et al. (2009)Quality assurance of herbal drug valerian by chemotaxonomic markers. African Journal of Biotechnology 8: 1148-1154.
Ahmad M, Khan MA, Zafar M, Arshad M, Sultana S, et al. (2010b) Use of chemotaxonomic markers for misidentified medicinal plants used in traditional medicines. Journal of MedicinalPlant Research 4: 1244-1252.
Khan SM, Harper DM, PageS, Ahmad H (2011) Residual value analysis of the medicinal flora of Western Himalayas: the Naran Valley Pakistan. Pak Journal of botany 43: 97-104.
Shinwari ZK, Gilani SS (2003) Sustainable harvest of medicinal plants at bulashbar Nullah, Astore (Northern Pakistan). Journal Ethnopharmacology 84: 289-298.
Dung NT, Webb EL (2008) Combining local ecological knowledge and quantitative forest surveys to select indicator species for forest condition monitoring in central Veit Nam Ecological indicators 8: 767-770.
Loreau MS, Oteng-Yeboah A (2006) Diversity without representation. Nature 422: 245.
Mukherjee PK (2005) Explorinf green resources for drug development through Ethnobotany: In chemistry for green environment. Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi.
Mutenje MJ, Ortmann GF,Ferrer SRD (2011). Management of non-timber forestry products extraction local institutions, ecological knowledge and market structure in south eastern Zimbabwe. Ecoogical Economy 70: 454-461.
Tarrason D, Urrutia JT, Ravera F, Herrera E, Andres P, et al. (2010) Conservation status of tropical dry forest ramnants in Nicaragua; do ecological indicators and social perception tally? Biodiversity Conservation 19: 813-827.
Rasul G (2010) The role of the Himalayan mountain systems in food security and agricultural sustainability in South Asia. International Journal of Rural Managemen 6: 95-116.
Sharma E, Chettri N, Oli KP (2010) Mountain biodiversity con servation and management; A papadigm shift in policies and practices in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas. Ecological Research 25: 909-923.
Khan SM (2012) Plant communities and vegetation ecosystem services in the Narran valley, Western Himalaya. Ph.D Tesis. University of Leicester.
Murtem G, Chaudhry P (2016) An ethnobotinacal study of medicinal plants used by the tribes in upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. American Journal ofEthnomedicine 3: 35-49.
Moldan B, Janouskova S, Hak T (2011) How to estimate and measure environmental sustainability: Indicators and targets.Ecological indicators 9:1-5.
Akhtar HM, Khuroo AA, Dar GH, Khan ZS (2011) Ethmedicinal uses of some plants in Kashmir Himalaya.Indian Journal of traditionalMedicine 10: 362-366.
Khan ZS, KhurooAA, Dar GH (2004) Ethnomedicinal survey of Uri, Kashmir Hmalaya. Indian Journal of traitional. Knowledge 3:351.
Rao RR, Jain SK (1977) A handbook of Field and Herbarium Methods. Today and Tomorrow Printers and Publications. New Delhi.
Gebrezgabiher G, Kalayou S, Sahle S (2013)An ethno-veterinary survey of medicinal plants in woredas of Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia.International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation5: 89-97.
Taylor RSL (2009)Wild Edible Plants Used by the Peopleof Manang District, Central Nepal. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 48:1-20.
Sher H, Alyemeni M (2011) Economically and ecologically important plant communities in high altitude coniferous forest of Malam Jabba, Swat, Pakistan.Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 18: 53-61.23
Rao DS, Rao GMM, Murthy PP (2016) Diversity and indigenous uses of some ethnomedicinal plants in Papikondalu wildlife sanctuary, Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, India. American Journal ofEthnomedicine 3: 06-25.
Sher H, Khan ZD (2006) Resource utilization for economic development and folk medicine among the tribal people: observation from northern parts of Pakistan. Pak Journal of Plant Sciences 12: 149-162.
Sher H, Al-yemeni MN, Sher H (2010a) Forest resource utilization assessment for economic development of rural community in northern parts of Pakistan. Journal of Medicinal Plant Research 4: 1197-1208.
Khan, SM, Page P, Ahmad H, David Harper D (2014) Ethno-ecological importance of plant biodiversity in mountain ecosystems with special emphasis on indicator species of a Himalayan Valley in the northern Pakistan.Ecological indicators 37: 175-185.
Sher H, Hussain F (2009) Ethnobotanical Evaluation of some plant resources in Northern part of Pakistan. African Journal of Biotechnology 8: 4066-4076.
Fongod AGN, Ngoh LM, Veranso MC (2014)Ethnobotany, indigenous knowledge and unconscious preservation of the environment: An evaluation of indigenous knowledge in South and Southwest Regions of Cameroon. InternationalJournal of Biodiversity and Conservation 6: 85-99.
Ahmad H, Ghafoor S, Ali N (2009) Ethnobotanical study of upper siran. Journal of Herbs species Medicinal Plants. 15: 86-97.
Balick MJ (1996) Transforming Ethnobotany for the new millinium. Annals of the Missori botanical garden. 83: 58-66.
Bussmann RW, Sharon D (2006) Traditional medicinal plant uses in Northern Peru: Tracking two thousand years of healing culture. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2:47.
Khan SM, Page S, Ahmad H (2013) Medicinal flora and ethno ecological flora in the Narran valley, Western Himalaya Pakistan.Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.
Mishra R (1968) Ecology work book. Calcutta: oxford and IBM Publishing Co.244.
Mueller-Dombois D, Ellenberg H (1974)Aims and Methods of Vegetation Ecology. John-Wiley, New York.
Sher H, Ashiq A, Al-yemeni M, Hadi SF, Hazrat S (2010b) Impact of nomadic grazing on medicinal plant diversity in Miandum Swat, Pakistan (prilimnary results). International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation2: 146-154.
Singh KN, Lal B (2008) Ethnomedicinal uses against four common ailments by the tribal community of Lahul Spiti in Western Himalaya.Journal of Ethnopharmacology 115: 147-159.
Stepp JR, Wundham FS, Zargar R (2002) Ethnobiology and biocultural diversity.
Zavaleta ES, Hulvey KB (2004) Realistic species losses disproportionately reduce grassland resistance to biological invaders. Science 306: 1175-1177.