ETHNOBOT ANI CAL POTENTIAL, PHYTOSOCIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION STATUS OF MOUNT ELUM (HINDUKUSH RANGE), BUNER PAKISTAN

Abstract

The present study was carried Ollt to assess, record and report the ethnllhotunical potential, phytosociology and conservation status of Mount Elum (Hindukush Range) Buner. The area has high potential regarding its biodiversity and its ethnobotanical utili za tion. Information collected ti'om local masses regarding 222 ethnobotanically important species belonging to 85 families, out of which 120 species were of medicinal importance. Rests of species have been described to be useful for fuel wood (52), timber (~O), vegetables (35), wild fruits (21), fodder (71), honey bec (16) and other miscdlaneo Lls purposes. The most important medicinal plants of the area are Acorlls CO/W71U.\' L., Ajuga bracfeosa Wall. Benth., Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam., Berberis /yCilll17 Royle, Pae()llio C!l7Ioc/i Wall. HKf., Pisfacia integrima J.L.Stewali ex Brandis., Rhododendron ol'/Joriu/II Smith., Skimmia laureola (Dc.) Steph. and Thymus serphylulI1 L. Diospyrus kaki L. is the most typical fruit species of the area with brilliant ethnllhotunical history. There are several cultivers of Pyrus communis L., which serve as a SO Llrce of germ plasm for future. Several species, such as Abies pinciro'r1J Royle, iconitum vi%/w} Jacque. Starr., BuxlIS wallichiana Baill., luglam; regia L., Paeonia emodi WaII.Hk.f. , Skimmia /alll't'% (Dc.) Steph., Valerianajalamonsi Jones., etc are vulnerable to threatened in the range of Mount Elum. These species require protection and conservation for posterity. Aconitum viololae Jacque, Morchella esculenla (L.) Pers ex Fr., Paeonia eJl1(}di Wall. Hk.f., Valeriana jalamonsi Jones. and Viola b[flora L., have been recomm~nded for commercial utilization in the area. Among the commercially exploi ted drugs, A cm;i" modes/a Wall.. A eOI'll.\' culilmll.\' L.. Morchella esclilenia (L.) Pers ex Fr., Valeriano .fa/omonsi Jones. and Viola C(lI1e.\l·ens Wall ex. Roxb. fetch high price in the market. Phytosociological studies show that there are four plant communities In tilL' range of Mount Elum (Buner) i-e. J- Dodonea - Adhatoda-Acacia community. II- Pinus- Ajuga- Berberis community. III- Pinus- Quercus- Vilis community. IV- Pinus- Ahies- Duchesnia community. Vegetation of the area is under intense biotic pressure, deforestation and overgm/.ing. The most serious single threat to the vegetation is the use of pl ant as fuel wood as more than 90 % of the houses use wood is the soul source for fuel. Recommendations have been discussed for conserving flora and fauna of the area.