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SPECIES DIVERSITY OF VASCULAR PLANTS OF NANDIAR VALLEY WESTERN HIMALAYA, PAKISTAN

FAIZ UL HAQ¹, HABIB AHMAD², MUKHTAR ALAM³, ISHTIAQ AHMAD¹ AND RAHATULLAH²

Abstract: Species diversity of Nandiar Valley District Battagram, Pakistan was evaluated with special reference to vascular plant diversity of the area. Floristically the area is placed in Western Himalayan Province. It is located on the western edge of Himalayas, dominated by Sino-Japanese elements. Aim of the study was to document the vascular plant resources, conservation issues and usage of the selected plants. An ethno-botanical survey was also carried out for collecting information regarding the various indigenous uses of the vascular plants in different parts of Nandiar Valley. Field observations showed that vegetation of the area was generally threatened due to unwise of local communities. The trend of urbanization, deforestation, over grazing, habitat fragmentation, unscientific extraction of natural vegetation, introduction of the exotic taxa and habitat loss were the visible threats. Sum 402 taxa belongs to 110 families of vascular plants were evaluated. Among the 402 species reported, 237 species were herbs, 71 shrubs, 68 trees, 06 climbing shrubs, 18 climbers and 03 epiphytes. The plants were classified according to local, traditional and economic value. Based on local uses, there were 178 medicinal plants, 21 were poisonous, 258 were fodder species, 122 were fuel wood species, 37 were timber yielding plants, 41 were thatching and sheltering plants, 29 were hedge plants, 71 were wild ornamental, 100 were weeds, 47 species yield edible fruits and seeds, 43 were used as vegetable and pot herb. Measures for the conservation of plant resources of Nandiar Valley are urgently needed. The fragile hot spots recorded were Baleja Forests of Hillian, Chail Forests and Shaeed Forests of Nandiar Valley.

Department of Botany, Government Degree College Battagram, Pakistan¹

Department of Genetics, Hazara University Mansehra, Pakistan (drhahmad@gmail.com)²

Directorate Research and Planning, Hazara University Mansehra, Pakistan³