Abstract

Conservation studies of 45 threatened medicinal plants were carried out for assessment of their conservation status, threats and recommendations growing in Mankial valley Hindukush Range Pakistan. Phytogeographically, the valley is present in the Sino Japanese floristic region and is a hot spot of endemism. A total of 45 taxa belonging to 35 families and 43 genera were collected and evaluated which include 13 (28.88%) vulnerable, 21 (46.66%) endangered and 11 (24.44%) critically endangered species. The number of plants scored with reference to its ecological amplitude and calculated historical distribution were compared with the IUCN criteria for threatened categories Version 3.1. The information regarding ‘conservation status’, threats and recommendations of the species were collected from the entire valley at different localities by filling questionnaire form 300 respondents including 260 male and 40 female. Mankial valley being naturally gifted with tremendous biodiversity, altitudinal and topographic variations is exposed to increasing human pressure, social injustice and low literacy rate that are destabilizing the biodiversity status especially species survival, habitat and ecosystem. According to the present studies, various parameters are contributing to make the important medicinal plants threatened including over exploitation (75.55%), fuel wood usage (35.55%), habitat loss (35.55%), over grazing (28.88%), deforestation (15.55%), use as timber (4.44%), bark usage (4.44%) and use as furniture (4.44%). Moreover, unsustainable utilization of plant natural resources and unscientific agricultural practices are the main threats to the ‘plant biodiversity’ growing in the valley. Therefore, studies regarding conservation status, threats and recommendations of threatened medicinal plants of Mankial Valley were proposed.

Key words: Conservation, deforestation, ecosystem, Hindukush Range, Mankial valley, over grazing.