Darjeeling Himalaya is a typical mountainous terrain composed of tropical, temperate, and alpine ecosystems and widely varying elevation ranges followed by a great diversity of flora and fauna. About 30% of the total geographical area (TGA) falls under forest cover, about one-third area as tea gardens and the rest is under agriculture and medicinal plants cultivation. There are no large floriculture gardens of public interest as yet, interestingly, aesthetic and commercial floriculture is almost wholly confined to individual home premises. In pursuance of the guidelines prescribed by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)-1992, this paper, reflects the outcomes of a three-year project, sponsored by the Govind Ballabh Pant ‘National Institute of Himalayan Environment’ (NIHE),  Almora, India (formerly known  as  G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development), and would seek to address five main objectives, namely, survey and documentation of wild species including rare and endangered ones; identifying areas where R&D is needed to safeguard and enhance the health of the plants and animals at the species, genetic and ecosystem level; conservation and rational utilization of natural resources as related to the process of sustainable development; generating mass awareness through education and training on scientific, economic, environmental, ecological and social dimensions of biodiversity; and, raising necessary manpower needed to promote sustainable growth and development of biodiversity resources on a long term basis.

Agarwood is a resinous heartwood of various species of Thymelaeaceae with aromatic, cultural and medicinal uses. The most common uses are incense, perfumery and medicine. The present review is on use of agarwood as incense, especially for spiritual and cultural purposes. It traces the use of incense in general, and agarwood in particular across ancient cultures and religions. The present-day use of agarwood as incense and the potential for export from India are discussed.

The present investigation was conducted to document the different wild edible plants and their ethnobotanical uses in the Rajgarh Block of District Sirmaur. Ethnobotanical information was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and interactions with the area’s indigenous community. Seventy-five species were recorded in 63 genera of 42 families as wild edibles from the study area. These wild edible plants have been assessed for cultural importance Index (CI) and factor informant consensus (F_ic). Grewia optiva (1.31), Rhododendron arboreum (1.13), and Pyrus pashia (1.10) recorded the highest values of CI. Factor informant consensus (F_ic) value ranged between 0.90 to 0.97. We recommend conducting further studies to explore the nutrient components and dietary importance of these conventional food resources.

The present communication is in continuation with the earlier published paper (Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products 30(2): 92-101, 2023), where the results of ethnobotanical survey of 9 villages of Gunri Panchayat of Sathyamangalam Taluk, Erode District were presented.

Guggul (Commiphora wightii) is much sought after for its gummy oleoresin, commonly used in Ayurvedic medicines, in perfumes and as incense. The plant is being overexploited and its population in nature is depleting. The species has now been put in the “Critically Endangered” category by the IUCN. The species is restricted to dry regions of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Haryana. The authors conducted ecological studies in the Aravallis of Haryana and located it in the districts Faridabad, Gurgaon, Mewat, Rewari, Mahendragarh and Bhiwani. Their observations are presented in this paper.

The gum-yielding species Sterculia urens Roxb., known for its valuable ‘Karaya Gum,’ plays a crucial role in various industries. However, unscientific exploitation, poor natural regeneration and inadequate seedling recruitment have led to a significant decline in its natural populations. A pilot study was conducted across ten sites in different forest divisions of Madhya Pradesh to assess the natural regeneration status. Study revealed that overall natural regeneration status was poor. Based on field observations, the study recommends the inclusion of S. urens in plantation programs of State Forest Departments to enhance its long-term security. Additionally, we advocate for assisted natural regeneration (ANR) activities within its natural ranges, emphasizing monitoring and adaptive management to ensure successful regeneration.

This study focuses on the socio-economic importance of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in the Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh. The research explores the demographic profile, NTFP collection practices and economic contributions of NTFPs to income of rural households in four selected villages. The findings reveal that NTFPs, particularly Tendu leaves, Mahua flowers, Mahua fruit, and Gudmar leaves, significantly contribute to the livelihoods of local communities. The study emphasizes the critical role of NTFPs, especially among rural populations and underscores the need for sustainable practices and market interventions to enhance the well-being of these marginalized communities.