Floral Composition, Sustainable Utilization, and Conservation of Important Medicinal Plants in the Ayubia National Park, Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

The national parks are the fountains of all sort of life forms that play a substantial role in species conservation and sustainability of ecosystem. This chapter revealed phyto-diversity along with ethno-medicinal uses of plant species in the Ayubia National Park (ANP), Pakistan. A total of 298 plant species were recorded of which 34 (11%) were trees, 50 (17%) shrubs, 198 (67%) herbs, 9 (3%) climbers, and 7 (2%) ferns, belong to 85 families. The dominant family was Asteraceae followed by Poaceae. A total of 80 plant species were reported as medicinal that are being used for treatments of various diseases by the local inhabitants. The most common among the used parts as medicines reported during current study, were leaves (35.80%). The local inhabitants depend upon natural resources due to nonavailability of proper medical facilities. As a result, the precious flora of the park is continuously diminishing. It is suggested that local communities must be involved in efforts for management of park in order to conserve biodiversity effectively. It is also mandatory to increase awareness in native people and parks management teams and arrange workshops and training programs on conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources within and around the park.