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Pak. J. Bot., 44: 187-194, Special Issue May 2012.

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IDENTIFICATION AND CONSERVATION OF IMPORTANT PLANT AREAS (IPAS) FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICINAL, AROMATIC AND ECONOMIC PLANTS IN THE HINDUKUSH-HIMALAYA MOUNTAIN RANGE

HASSAN SHER^1*, HAIDAR ALI¹ AND SHAFIQUR REHMAN²

Abstract: Study on the identification of Important Plant Areas (IPAs) was conducted in seven valleys of Hindukush-Himalayas mountainous ranges of Pakistan during 2005 and 2006. The principal aim of the study is to search new avenues for the conservation and sustainable utilization of threatened medicinal and economic plants and their habitats in IPAs. IPAs are sites of tremendous ecological and economic values that still exist in the world and are being managed on specific sites to study wild plant diversity. Several of such plants are used in the traditional medicines that are being used since the dawn of history to provide basic healthcare to people the world over. According to WHO, 80% of the human population of Africa still use medicinal plants in their primary healthcare. The popularity of herbal drugs is on the constant rise in many developed countries of the world, while in developing countries like Pakistan; medicinal plants contribute significantly to the income sources of people living in remote areas.  Keeping such importance in view, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a global vision in the form of “ Global Strategy for Plant Conservation” having various targets and mile stones. Target 5 of the strategy required for the global integration of the herbal medicine in health care system with proper identification of medicinal plants and the conservation of sites where such plants are found naturally, as its basic elements. In order to contribute to the specified target, WHO advised the relevant institutions to develop research plans and conservation programmes that are focused on the Global strategy in general and target 5 in specific. While complementing the appeal and contributing to its vision, a study was conducted in various eco-systems of the Pakistan’s Hindukush-Himalayas region, identifying Important Plant Areas (IPAs) for their subsequent conservation and uses for scientific purposes. Site selection for the study was based on: 1). Exceptional vegetation richness for the representative bio-geographic zone; 2). Presence of naturally occurring medicinal herbs with species of global or regional concern, and (3). Threatened habitats that are supporting plant species of medicinal and economic values. Apart from various values of the selected sites such as their scientific and economic importance, the selected sites had a treasure of indigenous knowledge related to the wise uses and conservation of medicinal plants. The study also focused on exploring the complex natural interactions between plants and other organisms; their dependence under various environmental parameters; traditional knowledge of the local inhabitants; and the significance of the landscape to Conserve such plants on long-term basis.

¹Centre of Botany and Biodiversity Conservation, University of Swat, Pakistan.

²Department of Botany, KUST, Pakistan.

^*Corresponding e-mail: hassan.botany@gmail.com