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Abstract
The present study deals with the survey, identification, documentation and ethnobotanical exploration with re- spect to the most frequently used important plants by the inhabitants including Gujjar Bkakerwal tribe of Rajouri- Poonch Ranges of North western Himalays, Jammu and Kashmir State. Wild plants play an important role in the livelihoods of rural communities as an integral part of the subsistence strategy of people in the study area. Exten- sive field trips, interviews with elders in villages and nomads to document the plant use value and frequency were made in the Rajouri-Poonch Ranges of Pir Panjal Himalay from January 2010 to November 2011. Also t visits were made to the local markets to assess nature and quantity of forest produce sold by the ethnic people and others to substantiate their earning. A total of Seventy four plant species belonging to sixty one families, with higher eco- nomic produce frequently used for boosting their economy by the ethnic groups living in the region were re- corded, collected, identified and documented during this period. Out of the total Seventy four plant species re- ported from Rajouri-Poonch, twenty five are of medicinal use. Thirty are wild edible as fruits, dried seeds, leafy vegetables and pot herbs. Ten plants are exploited for fodder and forage and more than a dozen plants are used for construction purposes. The study indicates the diversity of plants used by the local people and their knowledge about the plants. The study also concludes an immediate need for the assessment of the resource utilisation in Rajouri-Poonch ranges and conservation of the biodiversity.
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