Multipurpose plants utilization and resource management in Musk Deer National Park, Western Himalayas of Kashmir

Farooq Ahmed (), Muhammad Ejaz Ul Islam Dar, Muhammad Jamil Ahmed (), Tariq Habib and Liaquat Ali Khan
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Farooq Ahmed: University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK)
Muhammad Ejaz Ul Islam Dar: University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK)
Muhammad Jamil Ahmed: University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK)
Tariq Habib: University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK)
Liaquat Ali Khan: University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK)

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2024, vol. 26, issue 3, No 82, 7615-7631

Abstract: Abstract Himalayan regions are among the richest biodiversity reservoirs in the world which contains many eco-regions and protected areas. The present research work was designed to investigate forest resource utilization by local population of Musk Deer National Park (MDNP), Western Himalayas, in the state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. The data about resource utilizations by local communities were assessed through socio-economic survey in 12 villages. A total of 255 respondents were interviewed. Result revealed that most (44.12%) of the local people relied on forest resources for medicinal uses followed by vegetable collection (17.19%) and fodder extraction (16.10%). In the study area, a total of 109 plant species belonging to 52 families were widely used as medicine, human food (vegetables), fodder (animal food), timber wood and fuel wood by the people of MDNP. The highest number of plant species belonging to family Asteraceae, followed by families Polygonaceae, Poaceae, and Rosaceae. In the present study, 4 different indices were used on the basis of informant consensus for statistical analysis. Each index aimed to determine the cultural significance of a plant species. We emphasized on cultural importance index because it counts the number of uses of a plant species, highly correlated with frequency of citation, and its versatility. Our result showed a significant correlation between numbers of uses (NU), frequency of citation (FC) and semi structural interview that it is still a useful method for compilation study of passive knowledge. The present study revealed that the local knowledge provides new perceptions and opportunities for sustainable and multipurpose use of ecosystem services and offer current approaches for preserving cultural and ecological diversity. From the present study, it is suggested that the protected area should be at the core of national and international effort to conserve nature and their resource that provide benefits us.

Keywords: Multipurpose plant; Ecosystem services; Cultural diversity; Ethnic ecological knowledge; Cultural indices; Protected area (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-03024-3

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