Diversity, distribution, uses and conservation status of plant species of the Mornaula Reserve Forests, West Himalaya, India

Abstract

Assessment of plant diversity of the reserve forests of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) has received little attention. The present study was conducted in Mornaula Reserve Forest, one of the biodiversity-rich reserve forests of West Himalaya, and examined the diversity, distribution and indigenous uses of economically important plant species. A total 337 species of economic importance, belonging to 111 families and 260 genera have been reported. Of these, there were 75 tree species, 69 shrub species and 193 herbs (including 7 species of pteridophytes). These species have been used as medicine (221 spp.), wild edible/food (114 spp.), fodder (94 spp.), fuel (40 spp.), in religion (12 spp.), in agricultural tools (11 spp.), as timber (9 spp.) and for several other purposes (25 spp.) Among the useful species, 144 species had multiple uses and 193 species had single utility. Two species are recorded in the Red Data Book of Indian Plants as rare-endangered e.g. Cypripedium cordigerum (Rare); Dioscorea deltoidea (Vulnerable). These and other species have been also categorized as Critically Endangered (3 spp.); Endangered (4 spp.); and Vulnerable (9 spp.), following criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Comprehensive assessment of biodiveristy will help in the conservation and management planning for the reserve forests of the IHR.