Distribution of Ethno Medicinal Plants Along Some Important Roads: A Case Study of Northern Mizoram

Abstract

Mizoram state of India is part of the biodiversity hotspots of the world, the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot of South Asia which shows roadside rich diversity of flora. These floras are one of the source of carbon sink along the road and also source of medicinal resources for local villagers. India is world leader in the era of medical pluralism because it has strong evidence based biomedical sciences, as well as an immensely rich indigenous medical heritage of its own. Some works related to medicinal plants have been reported by some researchers in some districts and localized area in Mizoram. Till date no work has been reported on the diversity and ecology of medicinal flora growing along the Hill Roads in Mizoram. For listing of the medicinal plants along the roads four (4) major roads of northern part of Mizoram in three different locations were selected for the present study which were surveyed with team of experts for two consecutive years during the months of October to January (2017 & 2018) within 30m of the roads by traversing on foot on both side of the roads. Data on uses of the plants were collected through questionnaire, interviews and discussions with local people local Vadhya and old men and women community along the roads. During survey 318 traditional medicinal plants were recorded, out of which 170 are trees, 48 are shrubs and 100 are herbs. Status assessments of the plants indicate the fact that very few plants has been listed in IUCN list. Study reveals that distribution of these plants are being rare and endangered in their natural habitat due to several factors which need to be conserved and cultivated for their perpetual existence. Proper attention should be made during further capacity augmentation of these roads for conservation of these medicinal plants. The paper enlists the current diversity, habitat and ecology of the ethno medicinal plants and impact of road development on the flora along the road. The study is likely to help in further capacity augmentation/widening of these roads without harming the current diversity of the medicinal flora growing along the road.