Threat Assessment and Prioritization of High-Value Medicinal Plants in Pindari Valley, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, India

Aconitum heterophyllum, Picrorhiza kurrooa, and Nardostachys jatamansi face the highest threats among 42 high-value medicinal plants in Pindari Valley, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, due to their limited population and extensive harvesting. The study prioritized these species using a rapid threat assessment, revealing that 64% grow in grasslands or alpine slopes, while 55% are native to the Himalayas. Underground parts of 40% of the plants are harvested, exacerbating habitat destruction. Sixteen species were flagged for urgent conservation, with most being collected unsustainably from the wild. This research provides a critical framework for sustainable management and conservation of these medicinal resources in one of India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Kumar, R., Arya, D., Sekar, K. C., & Bisht, M. (2021). Threat Assessment and Prioritization of High-Value Medicinal Plants in Pindari Valley, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, India. Current World Environment, 16(1), 236–249. Portico. https://doi.org/10.12944/cwe.16.1.24