The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve and Medicinal Plants of the Region, Uttarakhand, Central Himalaya, India

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” Edmund Hillary

NDBR is situated between 30°17’N and 30°41’N latitude and 79°40’E and 80°05’E longitude and covers an area of 624.62 km2 core zone and 1612.12 km2 buffer zone. Recently, the total area of the NDBR has been increased from 2336.74 km2 to 5800 km2. The Bhotiya community of Central Himalaya comprises of three small sub-communities viz. semi-agrarian Tolcha and Marchha and semi pastoral Jadh, having two dwellings, one in higher Himalaya (2000-3600 m asl) for summers and other in lower Himalaya (400-1400 m asl) for winters. 

 

Earth's Snow Clad Monument "Dronagiri" 

The Bhotiya ethnic mountain people of Garhwal Himalaya are inhabiting in the northern most mountain areas of Chamoli in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) particularly the Niti and Mana valley.They belong to Indo-Mongoloid ethnic groups and practice transhumant patterns of life. Rearing livestock (particularly sheep and goat) is their subsidiary occupation. Their trade relationship with Tibetans was strong before the Indo-China war. At that time, they used to carry wheat, rice, and buckwheat to Tibet through different passes and border routes, in exchange for salt and wool. As noted, the trade links were stopped after the 1962 war between India and China. Livestock reared by the inhabitants are cows, bullock, sheep, goats, horses, and mules. All households depend entirely on the forest for fuel, timber, fodder, and leaf litter for organic manure. Wild resources make a significant contribution to food security. The use of herbs as a medicine is age-old and used by almost all traditional medicinal systems.

In major pharmacopoeia of India, Tibet and China a total of 21 species are common including genera Pleurospermum, Podpophyllum, Picrorhiza, Rheum, Saussurea, Allium, Arisaema. The most used Medicinal and Aromatic Plant species (MAPs) are Allium wallichii, Cordyceps sinensis, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Rheum australe., Berberis and Hippophae with their ethnomedicinal properties.Various Allium spp. which are endemic and narrow range of species distribution to the High Himalaya, is on the verge of local extinction in NDBR and restricted within some pockets in far-flung alpine today. Since local communities depends on these medicinal plants for livelihood and ecosystem services, and are the first people to suffer when the value of these genetic resources decreases, these traditional societies provide the natural focal point for conservation through wise use. Organic certification can help meet their need with better marketing gains and long-term system.

Major Species	Local Name
Aconitum heterophyllum	Atis
Allium stracheyi	Jeembu Faran
Angelica glauca	Chora
Arnebia benthamii	Bal Chadi
Berginea ciliata	Silphuri
Carum carvi	Kala Zeera
Dactylorrhiza hatagirea	Hathajari
Nardostachys jatamanisi	Jatamansi
Picrorhiza kurrooa	Kutki
Pleurospermum angelicoides	Chhippi
Podophyllum hexandrum	Ban kakri
Rheum emodi	Dolu
Saussurea costus	Kuth or Koot
Selinum wallichianum	Bhootkesh

Rocky Mountains of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Central Himalaya, Tolma Village, India