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Introduction
Ranked among Top 2% World's Scientists by the Stanford University. M.Sc. in Botany and Ph.D. on the 'Ecology and Conservation of Alpine Meadows in the Valley of Flowers National Park'. Associated with the National Medicinal Plants Board, New Delhi, Wildlife Institute of India and the G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development.
Additional affiliations
February 2018 - February 2018
May 2009 - June 2009
April 2008 - present
Publications
Publications (182)
Fire is one of the dominant disturbances in forests that widely impacts the ecology, environment, and socioeconomics of nations across the globe. In view of setting priorities of nations for combating and mitigating the adverse impacts of forest fires, a review of literature was carried out to examine various environmental and socioeconomic impacts...
The prevalence of eye diseases increases with age due to age-related muscular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy however, at present, the poor air quality has accelerated such diseases. Historically, eye diseases were treated by traditional medicinal practitioners using herbal formulations. The present study, therefore, attempts to document ethn...
Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) continues to erode as a result of globalization and the homogenization of diverse cultures, yet it has helped to conserve natural resources and preserve nature for centuries. Biosphere reserves have been established in regions where both cultural and natural resource assortments are deemed rich. The present st...
With homogenisation of various cultural groups due to outside forces and the effect of globalisation, many traditional foods, as developed by various cultural groups, have been lost or on the verge of elimination. In this context, the present study aims to examine and document the traditional food knowledge of local people in Uttarakhand State of I...
The objective of the present study was to understand the patterns in plant species diversity along the altitudinal gradient in Dhauladhar mountain range of the Indian Himalayas. Nested plot method was employed for sampling trees, shrubs and herbs along the elevations from sub-tropical forests to sub-alpine forests, and Shannon-Weiner diversity inde...
The rising faith in herbal-based medicinal and cosmetic products, at present, leads to increase the demand of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) that subsequently invites unsustainable harvesting of demand-driven MAPs. In this context, an attempt is made to investigate the harvesting practices and risk of harvesting MAPs in Himalayan region of In...
The traditional system of medication, including Ayurveda, has been accepted widely for treatment of diseases in India, and hence it is being utilised by the people for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic as well. In this backdrop, the traditional system of medicine in India was studied and examined for managing the COVID-19 pandemic. People in...
The transhumance pastoralists inhabiting the world highest mountain ecosystems, the Himalayas, have a long and a rich history of making various traditional foods and beverages. The hardship with the profession and living in the harsh geo-climatic conditions discourage new generations to continue pastoral practices, which subsequently decline the ri...
The present study aims to document and analyze the traditional knowledge, as practiced by the local herbal healers, on the use of plants for treatment of bone fractures and related disorders in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand Himalaya that endows rich bio-cultural diversity and ethnobotanical practices. This may help to safeguard the fading wealth of...
This study aims to find out various impacts of drought on farm produce and farmers’ income in central India. A range of methods, including scrutinizing secondary data to questionnaire surveys of farmers, and focus group discussions were used for gathering information from rainfed and irrigated farmlands. Most of the farmers in the study area blamed...
The global pandemic COVID-19 has turned into a serious transmissible disease from human to human within a short period. India being a developing nation with second largest populated country of the world that houses about 17.7 percent of the world population, is expected to suffer from the adverse impacts of COVID-19 much higher than the developed n...
Coleus is commercially cultivated for making herbal medicines to cure diseases like skin infections, cardiac problems, cough, glaucoma, cancer, and eczema. Coleus forskohlii is a rich source of different chemicals that are pharmacologically active compounds. These compounds are mostly diterpenes in nature and isolated from the different parts of th...
Respiratory diseases in human beings are on rise, at present, due to many reasons, including deteriorating air quality. Traditionally, plants are used to treat respiratory diseases. The present study, therefore, aims to identify and document plant use for treatment of respiratory diseases in Uttarakhand state of India. Interviews with local herbal...
The fever and headache are the most common diseases in human beings, and still, they are the cause of a large number of human deaths around the world. Historically, these diseases have been treated by using plant species. The present study, therefore, attempts to document plant use for treatment of fever and headache in the Uttarakhand state of Ind...
Cucumber is one of the important vegetables, which contains high contents of vitamins, dietary fibers, and also the medicinal properties. The demand of cucumber remains in the society, especially the one which is raised organically. The present study, therefore, aims to find out farming practices of cucumber and also the economic benefits as gained...
The Ganga, a most sacred river traverses from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, is revered as a deity by Hindus because it is a source for survival for millions of people in the Indian sub-continent. Over the years, the natural characteristics of this sacred river have disturbed due to several reasons, including unplanned urbanization, industriali...
Betula utilis is one of the important ethnobotanical species of the Himalayan treeline zone. The outer bark of this tree species has been used historically for writing as well as for making medicines. The multiple historical uses and subsequent overharvesting of Betula utilis for meeting the needs of communities and market forces have mounted press...
An ethnobotanical study was conducted in the Uttarakhand state of India, through questionnaire survey, to investigate various plant species and their parts used for making chutney - a special spicy condiment made of fruits or vegetables. Thirty eight plant species belonging to 19 families were documented during the survey. Polygonaceae, Rosaceae an...
We studied the patterns in distribution, population density and uses of medicinal plant species in Dhauladhar mountain range of Himachal Pradesh in Indian Himalayas. The study area was stratified into three zones on the basis of forest types and altitudes. In each zone, quadrats were laid down for sampling of plant species, and the local people wer...
We studied the patterns in distribution, population density and uses of medicinal plant species in Dhauladhar mountain range of Himachal Pradesh in Indian Himalayas. The study area was stratified into three zones on the basis of forest types and altitudes. In each zone, quadrats were laid down for sampling of plant species, and the local people wer...
The agro-forestry system is one of the best known indigenous practices for livelihood. In view of instant decline in the rainfed hill agro-forestry system the present study was undertaken in the hilly villages of Uttarakhand state of India with the major objective to assess the status and effects of various factors on this centuries old indigenous...
The hill states are unique in terms of their geography and resources for survival, which are presumed to influence the education system. In this context, the present study aims to understand the present course of education system in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand state - one of the hill states of India. Among the 5 hill districts studied during pres...
The medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) of the Himalayan region have been harvested from ancient times for their multiple uses. The traditional harvesting practices of these valuable MAPs have been altered over the
period of time due to several reasons, including advent of market forces, resulting in decline of many MAPs
populations. In this conte...
The present study was carried out in the residential colony of the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) at Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, with the major objective of studying the plant-people interactions in the urban ecosystem. Continuous observations were made round the year on the interactions of people with the plant specie...
The age-old traditional health care practices are still relevant and are followed by communities across the countries. India’s contribution remains exemplary in the growth of traditional health care systems. The present study reviews the strength of traditional health care systems and medicinal plants of India that has been contributing in health c...
Conservation of nature and natural resources has been a much challenging task in the present state of affairs where economy prevails over ecology. International treaties and conventions are signed and policies, laws and Acts have been enacted by the countries across the world, however, hostilities remain while applying the protected area policies w...
p>Tribal communities living in the far flung areas, including forests and forest fringes, derive a set of inferences and assumptions about the world around them, over the years. The present study, therefore,aims to document such worldview of tribal communities living in the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve of India. The questionnaire surveys and intervi...
The frequency and intensity of droughts have been elevated in the present century in India, and in 2016 alone, about 330 million people spread across 10 Indian states had affected by drought due to two consecutive years of weak monsoons. The agriculture sector, which is mostly rainfed in India, remains the centre of discourse on adverse effects of...
The concept of sanjeevani is deeply rooted in the Indian traditional medicinal system. It is also an integral part of the cultural heritage of India. Sanjeevani literally means something that offers life. Like sanjeevani, there are many medicinal miracles associated with Himalayan herbs. Chyawanprash is one of them. Its formula was originally devis...
Like forests, grasslands are critical wildlife habitats. But their protection is rarely a priority.
The Himalayan grasslands from sub-tropical to temperate, alpine and steppe have been exploited historically by humans for multiple uses including grazing lands for livestock. Besides domestic and wild animals, a large number of migratory birds use these grasslands and wetland areas dotted in these grasslands during their vertical and horizontal mig...
Among various natural forest products rhododendrons in the Himalayan region are regarded as one of the most important products in terms of consumption and high exchange values. Himachal Pradesh in India endows with many species of rhododendron, of which Rhododendron arboreum (Brash phool) and Rhododendron campanulatum (Kashmiri Patta) are studied i...
Natural gum is an important forest produce, which provides livelihood to the forest dwellers and also forms a vital raw material for various industries. India is one the major producers of gum as it endows with high diversity of gum yielding tree species. However, these tree species are less studied, especially with respect to their indigenous uses...
Diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, and constipation are common gastrointestinal diseases prevalent across the world. Gastrointestinal disease is often fatal in the developing world due to malnutrition, consumption of contaminated food and water, and poor hygienic conditions. In many rural areas, the traditional healing system, based on the use of plant...
The high cultural diversity of India is manifested through festivals that are celebrated round the year in different parts of the country. Being the first deity to be worshipped in any auspicious event by the followers of Hinduism, the Lord Ganesha's birthday is celebrated with a great enthusiasm and passion. With due course of time, changes crept...
The leaves of faran have a distinct fragrance and are of high medicinal value.
A critical first step in establishing biosphere reserves—under the Man and Biosphere Programme of UNESCO—is to generate baseline information for future courses of action. The present study aims to assess the structure and composition of forests—along with anthropogenic pressures mounting on these forests in the buffer zone of one such biosphere res...
Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) have been recognized as an important resource for health care and perfumery since antiquity. At present, there is a vast scope for enterprise development in this natural resource. The wealth of knowledge on the use of MAPs and different stages of MAPs sector, including collection, cultivation, processing, market...
The Himalayan mountain range, being structurally unstable and young, is still geologically active, fragile, and vulnerable to both natural and man-made processes. Here seismicity mainly results from the continental collision of the India and Eurasia plates. Under-thrusting of India northward beneath Eurasia generates frequent earthquakes.
Plants used in the treatment of snakebites were surveyed in the Uttarakhand state of India, using a questionnaire. Theherbal practitioners were interviewed and information on snakebite treatments, using medicinal plants were collected fromthe traditional healers, locally called as vish vaidyas. The study documents 56 medicinal plant species, of whi...
Being blessed to wander in some of the most fascinating hills and valleys of nature, I have been endeavoring for long to put these stories together. I offer here the elements that appeal most to me during my wanderings in the jungles, meadows, villages and towns, especially in the abode of gods and goddesses – the Himalaya.I pick up one of the tale...
Ecosystem being a service provider supplies a great amount of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), apart from innumerable services, for the welfare of human beings. These MAPs are equipped with the potential of integrating the ecological, commercial and social values. Uttarakhand being a Himalayan state enjoys a proven advantage and monopoly over...
The rich plant diversity of Uttarakhand hills has provided an initial advantage to the local people for scrutinizing various plant species for the purpose of food, medicine, perfumes and spices. Over the years, they have accumulated a great deal of knowledge on the use of plant species. The present study aims to document such information, especiall...
The Himalaya has been venerated by communities since antiquity and hence visited by a large number of pilgrims for paying tribute, annually. Uttarakhand state in the Indian Himalaya being the place of major Hindu shrines like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri and also the place of origin of many sacred rivers including the Ganges, at pre...
Food, nutritional and livelihood securities for human beings remain the centre point of agricultural development. Being the cash crops, at present, vegetables attract grower's attention more than the traditional food crops. This study aims to examine the changes in traditional cropping systems of the hilly villages in Uttarakhand state of India alo...
Utilization and harvesting practices of medicinal plants used by local people of Ghughri block in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh was studied through questionnaire survey. The study resulted in the documentation of 43 medicinal plants of these 95% was used by traditional healers for curing various diseases. Tree species were used in maximum cases...
Science and Business of Forestry Carbon Projects is a comprehensive guide on biodiversity, conservation and development, and regulation-related issues relevant to forests. It provides comprehensive and detailed guidance on the development, marketing, and financials related to projects in the forestry sector, with a focus on addressing problems rela...
The huge variety and variability of species including humans are dependent on each other, and the extinction of any one of these species can directly or indirectly affect the survival of other species. Biological diversity, therefore, is undoubtedly one of the most important components of the ecosystem, which provide countless services not only in...
Apple farming is an important activity and profession of farmer communities in the Himalayan states of India. At present, the traditional apple farming is under stress due to changes in climate. The present study was undertaken in an Indian Himalayan state, Himachal Pradesh, with the major aim of studying perceptions of farmers on the effects of cl...
This book on Plant Biodiversity Utilization and Biotechnology covers the significant and most challenging aspect of biodiversity. The book incorporates the valuable topics on molecular diversity, tree improvement technology, agro-technology, phyto-remediation, phyto-stabilization, provenance selection, chromatography and biotechnology in sustainabl...
The problem of soil degradation has made the farmers to devise some indigenous practices and systems of land use since antiquity in order to maintain and restore the quality of land, which remains operational even today to maintain sustainable crop production. The present study, therefore, deals with the traditional ecological knowledge on soil cha...
The present book Forest Biodiversity: Conservation and Management incorporates chapters on multidisciplinary approach and contains information on different aspects of forest biodiversity, including ethnobotany, diversity of agroforestry, phenology, insect-pest diversity, plant-origin pesticides, forest microbial diversity, and forest management pra...
Realizing the historical importance of central Indian forests in terms of ecological, social and economical perspectives and the present socio-economic changes in the community due to several reasons, the present study was conducted. It aimed at addressing the status of harvesting pattern and supply chain structure of various ethno-botanical specie...
The value of ecotourism in creating opportunities for sustainable development of communities and management of ecosystem and environment was studied in the Uttarakhand state of India. This Himalayan state promotes ecotourism in national parks and sanctuaries, apart from exclusive areas created for ecotourism in the form of ecoparks. One such ecopar...
We investigate livestock predation by the common leopard (Panthera pardus) and emerging conflicts between this species, local people, and wildlife authorities at the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Himalayan region of India. We scrutinized secondary data that were collected by wildlife authorities; we also conducted informal interviews of villager...
Despite the rich biological and cultural diversity of Chhattisgarh state, the deciduous forests are seldom studied for medicinal plants populations and the traditional system interwoven with this healthcare commodity. The present study deals with documentation of traditional uses of plants for therapy, population status in their natural habitats,an...
Indigenous societies living close to nature are replete with examples of prudent management and conservation of natural resources. The extensive use of timur in the high-altitude societies of the Uttarakhand Himalaya has evolved and established a mechanism for providing its different type of distributive function . As a result, these indigenous soc...
Historical evidences suggest that the Himalayas have some strong biogeographical links to the Alps. In view of this fact, the present study aims to understand the similarities in plant species distribution and their ethnobotanical uses in the Indian Himalayas and the Slovenian Alps. The plant species common in both the mountain systems and used by...
The advent of modern forces and the changes in socioeconomic patterns of forest dwellers have increased the pressures on the
forests. In order to mitigate such pressures and also to protect the forests and wildlife the model of protected areas networks
has shifted and enhanced such pressures in the unprotected natural forests due to several reasons...
The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve (PBR) harbors some thick forests in central India that is inhabited by many tribal communities including Gond and Mawasi. This rich forest has provided ample opportunities to its inhabitants for observing and scrutinizing the various plant species for developing their own traditional knowledge. Through structured que...
A study was conducted to examine the distribution pattern of four rhizomatous medicinal and aromatic plant species (MAPs)
viz., Angelica glauca, Pleurospermum angelicoides, Rheum emodi and Arnebia benthamii in different forest stands in Central Himalaya. Results show that A. glauca and P. angelicoides had a higher (50%) frequency at Chipkoan, Garpa...
Worldwide, from the historical past, skin diseases have serious impacts on the quality of human life. Although attempts have been made to cure skin related disorders by applying modern medicines, skin diseases are still mainly cured by traditional healers in rural areas using plant species. In this context the specifi c objectives of this study wer...
This study deals with the floral diversity and distribution patterns in plant species in relation to environmental gradients in the high altitude cold desert of Ladakh, India. An extensive literature survey and field explorations were made across the different parts of Ladakh in order to create a compilation of vascular plant species. For the quant...
Ecotourism aims to deliver the philosophy of sustainable development through environmental conservation as well as socio-economic
development. Areas with rich biodiversity and scenic beauty, like the Indian Himalayan region, have been one of the major
destination centers for nature lovers from historical time. In view of conserving the rich biodive...
The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve (PBR) harbors some thick forests in central India that is inhabited by many tribal communities including Gond and Mawasi. This rich forest has provided ample opportunities to its inhabitants for observing and scrutinizing the various tree species for developing their own traditional knowledge. With this background, t...
The sacred groves in the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve (PBR) of India were studied to understand the concept of traditional ecological and biodiversity conservation systems. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the selected villages of the PBR along with the survey of sacred groves. In 10 selected villages of the PBR 7 sacred groves were managed b...
Today, the world witnesses a global resurgence of interests in plant-based drugs and cosmetics. The revival of traditional health care systems, which is mainly plant-based, has several ramifications including the challenging tasks of meeting the health care needs of the ever increasing human population. Since the majority of raw material for prepar...
The indigenous sustainable management practices of medicinal plants, developed by local communities, have been overlooked normally with the passage of time and changing socio-economic conditions. Realizing the importance of medicinal plants in recent years countries across the world have shown interest in the medicinal plant sector, which they wish...
The effects of isomers of butadiene units, the ratio of comonomers in ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, and the degree of isotacticity of propylene units in the layer on the intensity of interfacial interaction in covulcanizates of butadiene-acrylonitrile rubbers of different polarities and ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers have been analyze...
The present study documents the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants that are used in surrounding Dhutatoli forest range of Uttarakhand state in India. Ethnomedicinal uses of 54 medicinal plant species along with botanical name, vernacular name, family, habitat and occurrence, part used and folk medicinal uses are presented. All these plants be...
The effects of pastoral grazing practices on the vegetation structure and composition of the Himalayan alpine meadows has become a subject of considerable debate with reference to in situ conservation of floral diversity. Banning pastoral grazing in some protected areas has invited a lot of conflicts between forest managers and pastoral communities...
Growing and maintaining of plant species by household members in the vicinity of dwelling places dates back to antiquity. A study was conducted in the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve (PBR) -one of the 15 biosphere reserves of India, with the major aim of understanding the perceptions of tribal communities, especially with respect to the home gardens an...
Medicinal plants are highly valuable to human livelihood and the Indian Himalaya is well recognized amongst unique and globally important medicinal plant rich areas. Studies on possible effects of climate change on medicinal plants are particularly significant due to their value within traditional systems of medicine and as economically useful plan...
Therefore, the present study is an attempt: to identify the plants being used for medicinal pur-1. poses by the Bhotiya tribal communities in order to better characterize their pharmacopoeia. to better understand Bhotiya knowledge about their 2. health care system for treating different diseases in order to understand the basis for their interactio...
The agro-forestry system is one of the best known indigenous practices for livelihood. In view of instant decline in the rainfed hill agro-forestry system the present study was undertaken in the hilly villages of Uttarakhand state of India with the major objective to assess the status and effects of various factors on this centuries old indigenous...
Throughout the Indian sub-continent, all earlier medical branches have developed and refined different treatments based on preparations made from available natural resources. Traditional knowledge of local Vaidyas (practitioners of Ayurveda) about medicinal plants and their importance in local healthcare practices is well known since Vedic time. Ho...
The people of far-flung rural areas still depend to a large extent upon plants and household remedies for curing veterinary ailments. The folk knowledge of ethnoveterinary medicine and its significance has been identified by the traditional communities through a process of experience over hundreds of years. The paper deals with 34 ailments commonly...
The population density, patterns in collection and indigenous uses of Timroo, an important medicinal, aromatic and religious plant, were studied in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state in India. Structured questionnaire surveys were conducted in selected villages for gathering information, followed by quadrat sampling for assessment of populat...
In the recent century, the close relationship between ethnobotany and economic development has raised global concerns towards shrinking populations of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). With the globalization and advent of commercial interest, the ethnobotanical knowledge on useful MAPs is being transformed into commercial gains, whereas, the tr...
Questions
Questions (2)
In June 2013, the torrential downpour and subsequent flooding had wreaked havoc and swallowed vast swathes of a Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India. Over 1800 villages were affected, 2500 families became homeless and at least 4000+ people lost their life during the disaster. The cloudburst, heavy rainfall and subsequent landslides are the natural disasters but this disaster in Uttarakhand is mainly attributed by masses as a man-made disaster due to unplanned development and unregulated tourism. What should be the model of conservation and development in the fragile ecosystems such as the Himalayas?
Despite concerted efforts, by 2011 the status of only 4% of the world’s known species had been evaluated for potential inclusion on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species http://www.iucnredlist.org. Ecosystem-level assessments may also be less time consuming than species-by-species assessments. However, a red book of ecosystem is not possible, as there are no standard, widely accepted categories and criteria available to underlie the assessment. The protocols may differ in defining ecosystems and their extinction, the use of quantitative criteria in assessments.
How to take into account loss of ecological function, the scale of applicability, and how to consider uncertainty in the data?
