Depleting Indigenous Knowledge of Medicinal Plants in Cold-Arid Region of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Western Himalaya
Medicinal plants play a vital role in local health care system of indigenous communities in remote areas. However, a declining trend is prevailing with respect to the indigenous knowledge of wild plants across the globe. Based on semi-structured questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews, the study attempts to document the indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants of an ethnic community in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve of India. The study revealed that the locals are knowledgeable of about 38 medicinal plants used for curing 24 different human ailments. However, the practice of utilising medicinal plants in their local healthcare system is sharply declining due to lack of education facility; that has lead to lack of knowledge as well as transfer of knowledge to youger generations. The richness of knowledge about medicinal plants was assessed using Knowledge Richness Index among different age groups. To promote awareness and enhance access on ethno-medicinal wisdom, the management authorities must necessitate educational facilities in the region and the traditional knowledge information portal as recognised by the Convention on Biological Diversity and people’s biodiversity register are required to develop.