Almost every ecosystem has been amended so that plants and animals can be used as food, fibre, fodder, medicines, traps and weapons. Historically, wild plants and animals were sole dietary components for hunter–gatherer and forager cultures. Today, they remain key to many agricultural communities. The mean use of wild foods by agricultural and forager communities in 22 countries of Asia and Africa (36 studies) is 90–100 species per location. Aggregate country estimates can reach 300–800 species (e.g. India, Ethiopia, Kenya). The mean use of wild species is 120 per community for indigenous communities in both industrialized and developing countries. Many of these wild foods are actively managed, suggesting there is a false dichotomy around ideas of the agricultural and the wild: hunter–gatherers and foragers farm and manage their environments, and cultivators use many wild plants and animals. Yet, provision of and access to these sources of food may be declining as natural habitats come under increasing pressure from development, conservation-exclusions and agricultural expansion. Despite their value, wild foods are excluded from official statistics on economic values of natural resources. It is clear that wild plants and animals continue to form a significant proportion of the global food basket, and while a variety of social and ecological drivers are acting to reduce wild food use, their importance may be set to grow as pressures on agricultural productivity increase.

/pdf/the-roles-and-values-of-wild-foods-in-agricultural-systems-r79ox9x8h9.pdf

The roles and values of wild foods in agricultural systems.

Global Biodiversity Assessment

The wealth of India. A dictionary of Indian raw materials and industrial products. Vol. 7; N-Pe.

A review of the trade in orchids and its implications for conservation

Flowers of the Himalaya.

Himachal Pradesh, in the Indian Himalaya, has a rich diversity of medicinal plants, which are widely used. This paper brings together existing information with the results from recent field surveys. A total of 643 species of medicinal plants are identified; many different plant parts are used for the treatment of various ailments. The number of medicinal plant species decreased with increasing altitude. The plants are classified according to nativeness, endemism, and rarity, and prioritized for cultivation. Existing strategies for in-situ and ex-situ conservation, cultivation and propagation are reviewed and a range of actions for cooperative implementation by all stakeholders are suggested.

Medicinal plants in Himachal Pradesh, north western Himalaya, India

/pdf/ethnobotanical-observations-in-the-mornaula-reserve-forest-1gc2riaov6.pdf

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

In the Indian Himalayan Region, the studies focused on diversity of the plants used for treating liver diseases/ailments have not been carried out so far. Therefore, the present attempt has been made to study the diversity, distribution pattern and conservation status of the plant species used for treating liver diseases/ailments in that region. A total of 138 species (35 species of trees, 22 shrubs and 81 herbs) belonging to 98 genera in 60 families have been recorded. Amongst the families, Euphorbiaceae (9 species), and altitudinal zone <1,800 m, (i.e., 115 species) are rich in species. Traditionally, various plant parts, such as roots/rhizomes/tubers (46 species), leaves (31), whole plants (30), barks (15), fruits (13), seeds and unspecified parts (8 each), and inflorescence (1) are used for the treatment of liver diseases/ailments. 34 species are native, 3 are endemic and 15 near endemic. 7 species are categorized as Critically Endangered (Betula utilis), Endangered (Podophyllum hexandrum, Ephedra gerardiana, and Nardostachys grandiflora) and Vulnerable (Bergenia ligulata, B. stracheyi, and Hedychium spicatum) using new IUCN criteria. Available chemical composition of plant parts used for the treatment of liver diseases/ailments have been given. Assessment of the populations of threatened species, development of an appropriate strategy, action plan for the conservation and sustainable utilization of such components of plant diversity are suggested.

Diversity, Distribution Pattern and Conservation Status of the Plants Used in Liver Diseases/Ailments in Indian Himalayan Region

The Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary (KhWLS) located in the Kullu district of northwestern Himalaya and covering an area of 14 km 2 has not been explored for documenting the structure and composition of vegetation. In this study we examine the site/habitat characteristics, assess the diversity of tree species, delineate forest tree communities, assess the regeneration pattern of tree species, and suggest conservation measures. Sixty-five sites were sampled between 1640 - 2400 m asl and for each site, habitat characteristics, altitude and dominant species were noted. Seventeen forest tree communities were recorded. Cedrus deodara community was the most widely distributed followed by Quercus leucotrichophora, Abies pindrow and Quercus semecarpifolia communities. Cedrus deodara community had maximum density of trees (1468 Ind ha-1), seedlings (1290 Ind ha-1) and saplings (1172 Ind ha-1), while Picea smithiana community recorded the maximum total basal area (186.2 m 2 ha -1 ). Of the 17 forest tree communities identified, eight showed maximum regeneration of the dominant species, six showed maximum regeneration of the co-dominant species indicating the possibility of at least partial replacement of the dominant species by the co-dominant species in the future; and three communities showed poor or no regeneration of the dominant species indicating a total replacement of the dominants in the coming years. Long term monitoring of these tree communities for their conservation management is suggested. Resumen: El Santuario Khokhanpara la Vida Silvestre, localizado en el distrito Kullude los HimalayaNoroccidentales y con una superficie de 14 km 2 , no habia sido explorado con el fin de documentar laestructura y la composicion de la vegetacion. En esteestudiose examinan- lascaracteristicasde sitio/habitat, se evalua la diversidadde especies arboreas, se delimitan las comunidades arboreas, se evalua el patron de regeneracionde las especies arboreas y se sugieren medidas deconservacion. Se muestrearon 65 sitios entre 1640-2400 m s.n.m. y para cada sitio se anotaron las caracteristicas del habitat, la altitud y las especies dominantes. Se registraron 17 comunidades de bosque. La comunidad de Cedrus deodarafue la mas ampliamente distribuida,seguida por las comunidades de Quercus leucotrichophora, Abies pindrowy Quercus semecarpifolia. La comunidadde Cedrus deodaratuvo la densidad mas alta dearboles (1468 ind. ha -1 ), plantulas (1290 ind. ha -1 ) y plantas jovenes (1172 ind. ha -1 ), mientras que en la comunidad de Picea smithianase registro la mayor area basal total (186.2 m 2 ha -1 ). De las 17 comunidades de bosque identificadas,ocho mostraron una regeneracionmaximade la especie dominantey seismostraronuna regeneracion maximade las especiescodominantes, lo que indica la posibilidad de que ocurra al menos un reemplazo parcialde la especie dominante por las especies codominantes en el futuro;ademas, tres comunidades mostraron una regeneracion muy pobre o una ausencia total de regeneracion de la especie dominante, lo que sugiere que

Diversity and regeneration status of tree species in Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary, north-western Himalaya

The family Orchidaceae, best represented by the species Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D.Don) Soo, is known worldwide for its manifold uses. It is widely used to cure various diseases like dysentery, diarrhoea, chronic fever, cough, stomachache, wounds, cuts, burns, fractures, general weakness, etc., and widely used in modern medicine. Therefore, an attempt has been made to assess the medicinal potential of the species both in traditional as well as in modern medicine system. These properties are supposed to be cured by different active compounds present in the plant. This paper provides the relevant information about medicinal properties of the high value medicinal orchid.

	 

	Key words: Dactylorhiza hatagirea, orchid, medicinal potential.

Shreekar Pant

Papers

Medicinal plants in Himachal Pradesh, north western Himalaya, India

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

Diversity, Distribution Pattern and Conservation Status of the Plants Used in Liver Diseases/Ailments in Indian Himalayan Region

Diversity and regeneration status of tree species in Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary, north-western Himalaya

Dactylorhiza hatagirea: A high value medicinal orchid