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PRESERVING INDIGENOUS MEDICINAL PLANTS: A STUDY OF WILD PLANT UTILIZATION AND CONSERVATION IN CHAMLA VALLEY, BUNER DISTRICT, PAKISTAN

Hashma*, Syeda Sidra, Mamoona Nisar

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Abstract

This research had focused on the Chamla valley situated in District Buneer which is a rural area in the KP province of Pakistan. The local inhabitants uses the native wild plants for various purposes. To raise awareness among the local community and safeguard these plants, we have presented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Following the identification of these medicinal plants, we have preserved samples of each plant in the Abdul Wali Khan University herbarium for conservation purposes. Our comprehensive report encompasses 72 plant species belonging to 44 plant families. It was observed that the local residents utilizes these plants for the treatment of ailments such as dysentery, diarrhea, infectious diseases, and liver diseases. Certain plants were found to be more commonly used than others. However, during our study, we also noticed a decline in the abundance of several plant species, which are now rarely found in the Chamla valley. The knowledge of medicinal plants in the Chamla valley contributes to the rich ethnomedical practices of Buner district. Therefore, urgent measures are required to protect this valuable knowledge.

Keywords: Ethnobotanical study, Medicinal plants, Conservation, Wild plants, Chamla valley