Research Article | Published: 31 May 2022

Diversity, distribution, indigenous uses and conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants in Changthang landscape of Ladakh, Trans Himalaya

Shiv Paul, Khilendra Singh Kanwal, Sheetal Sharma, Indra Dutt Bhatt and Rakesh Chandra Sundriyal

Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products | Volume: 28 | Issue: 4 | Page No. 138-146 | 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2022-BNX122 | Cite this article

Abstract

The paper enumerates 95 plant species of medicinal importance used by the inhabitants of the villages around the Changthang plateau of Ladakh Union Territory, India. Leaves (27 spp.), shoots (23 spp.), flowers and root (19 spp., each) were utilized in majority cases. Maximum species were used for gastrointestinal diseases followed by cold, cough, flu, fever & headache. Twenty species have been recorded threatened from the Changthang landscape. Habitat degradation, over exploitation and changing environmental conditions have been observed main drivers for decreasing the diversity and populations of medicinal plants in the landscape. Therefore, there is urgent need of formulation of appropriate in-situ and ex-situ conservation and management strategy for preservation of rich medicinal and aromatic plants of the Changthang landscape of the Ladakh Union Territory.

Keywords

Changthang, Conservation, Diversity, Indigenous Uses, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

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How to cite

Paul, S., Kanwal, K.S., Sharma, S., Bhatt, I.D. and Sundriyal, R.C., 2021. Diversity, distribution, indigenous uses and conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants in Changthang landscape of Ladakh, Trans Himalaya. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products, 28(4), pp.138-146. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2022-BNX122

Publication History

Manuscript Received on 06 May 2022

Manuscript Revised on 21 May 2022

Manuscript Accepted on 29 May 2022

Manuscript Published on 31 May 2022

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