Floral Wealth of Hindukush: Ethnobotanical Insights into Indigenous Plant Uses and Conservation Challenges

Abstract

The indigenous communities in the Hindukush mountains are deeply connected to their environment and biodiversity, which spans centuries. They have been utilizing plant resources in traditional ways to meet their daily needs and sustain their livelihoods. However, with the advancement of technology and social changes, this ancient traditional knowledge is at risk of extinction. The present study in the "Dokat Hills" of District Swat, was aimed to document the traditional uses of plants by local communities. Data was collected from local informants using standard procedures and analyzed through various ethnobotanical indices such as Use values, Relative frequency of citation, Informant consensus factor, and Relative importance. The study identified 117 plant species from 54 different species used for various purposes, with the highest proportion of medicinal plants comprising 70.9%. The Lamiaceae and Asteraceae families were the most speciose. Plants like Foeniculum vulgare, Juglans regia, and Acacia nilotica were notable for their use value. Berberis lycium, Ajuga integrifolia, and Mentha longifolia were frequently cited. Similarly, Foeniculum vulgare, Acacia nilotica and Olea ferruginea (0.96) were the top-ranked species in terms of relative importance. The highest consensus factor was recorded for Gastrointestinal diseases. Despite the rich diversity of medicinal and useful plants, the area was facing several threats, like fuelwood collection and overexploitation. The study suggested several recommendations, including raising public awareness, promoting sustainable resource use, conservation, and commercialization of indigenous drugs in the study area.