Diversity, Endemism and Potential values of Wild Edible Plants of Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh, North Western Himalaya, India

Author: Vijay Kumar, S.S. Samant, L.M. Tewari, Om Prakash, Sunil Dutt, Manohar Lal and Pankaj Sharma

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Abstract

: Local people of a particular area use variety of wild plants for food, medicines, and products. According to the information of local people, the utilisation of plants as a food and medicine, some of these plants have been documented. However, information about the use of many wild edible plants has yet to be documented. Therefore, the current study is an effort to document the plants (wild edibles) of Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary, which is situated in Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh. A total of 111 plants (wild edibles), comprising 42 families and 74 genera, were documented. Among them, trees (18 spp.) shrubs, (27 spp.) herbs (65 spp.) and fern (01 spp.) of wild edibles were recorded. From the all species, 71 species were native, 22 near endemics, 02 endemics and rest were non-natives to (IHR) Indian Himalayan Region. Numerous parts, like, leaves, fruits, seeds, roots, whole plants, flowers, tuber, rhizome, etc. were used by the local inhabitants. Over utilization and environment deprivation can affect the survival of wild edible plants. Therefore, for protection of wild edible plants, habitat ecology studies, conventional and in vitro propagation practices, plantation of wild edible in their natural habitat, programs regarding awareness and education for local inhabitants and Forest Department have been proposed

Keywords

Utilization pattern, Nativity, Endemism, Indigenous uses, Frequency, Wild Edibles, Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary.

Conclusion

Present study showed that the traditional wisdom about the use of wild edibles still exists among the local communities residing around the Sanctuary. The local inhabitants are the store house of traditional knowledge particularly about the use of wild edible plants. They depend on wild edibles, not only for food and nutrition, but also for income generation. But, gradually disappearing traditional knowledge, habitat degradation, overexploitation, shifting environmental condition and traditional practices of local people have necessitated the need for conservation and management of this diversity by the local people, Central and State Government Organizations, NGOs, and adequate documentation of indigenous knowledge and traditional practices. Study on the population ecology of the important wild edibles, formulation and dissemination of adequate knowledge, potential of these plants (wild edible); education and awareness programs regarding sustainable utilization of these species (wild edible) for the inhabitants; and development of conventional and in vitro propagation protocols of wild edibles for mass scale propagation and their establishment and maintenance in the in situ and ex situ conditions have been suggested

References

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How to cite this article

Vijay Kumar, S.S. Samant, L.M. Tewari, Om Prakash, Sunil Dutt, Manohar Lal and Pankaj Sharma (2023). Diversity, Endemism and Potential values of Wild Edible Plants of Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh, North Western Himalaya, India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(3): 899-910