Shreekar Pant

• Ph.D. Botany
• Coordinator at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University

Prioritizing native and endemic species for conservation is fundamental to achieve broader objectives of safeguarding biodiversity, as these species are vulnerable to extinction risks. Forecasting the climatic niche of these species through species distribution models can be crucial for their habitat conservation and sustainable management in futur...

Rubus ellipticus Sm. is native to the northern hemisphere particularly in southeast Asia. Several phytochemicals including gallic acid, beta-carotene, tormentic acid, histidine, leucine, quinic acid, sericic acid and ursolic acid have been extracted from various parts of the plant. The plant has also been shown to contain minerals such as calcium,...

Himalayas covers about five countries named as: India, China, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. Mount Everest is the highest peak located in the Himalaya (27°59′N 86°55′E). Himalayan range is bordered on the north-west by Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges, TibetanPlateau and Indo-Gangetic Plain. Some rivers like the Indus, the Ganges and the Tsangpo-Brahma...

Forests are key role players in carbon sequestration storing around 25% of total global carbon. The trees and soil in the forests store carbon thus reducing carbon levels in the atmosphere. Different methods like remote sensing, allometric equations, and inventories are used to quantify carbon stocks. Studies used IPCC gain–loss approach, Landsat,...

The Himalayan Mountains are one of the most remarkable geological wonders in the world. Given the enormous floral and faunal diversity, the Himalayas are one of the world’s ecological hotspots. At the same time, it is one of the most vulnerable ecosystems, which has been put to exploitation across all forms. The Himalayas serve as a major tourist a...

Several organic compounds are referred to as plant growth regulators (PGRs) that influence the differentiation, growth and development of plants when they are applied in small concentrations. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of Indole 3-acetic acid and Gibberellic acid on the morphological and physiological traits of Withania somnifera...

In the present study, a bibliometric analysis of 453 publications published between 1991 and 2022 was carried out in order to evaluate and analyze the existing academic literature, as well as to identify current research trends and hotspots on this topic. Three different sorts of bibliometric indicators: quantitative, qualitative, and structural, w...

Changing climatic scenarios has been recognized as a prominent threat to biodiversity globally. Given the decline in biodiversity, there are more and more local, national, and global awareness campaigns as well as legislative initiatives devoted to biodiversity conservation. The present study aims to increase our knowledge and understanding of the...

Conserving mountain species under climate change is a major ecological concern. It is still unclear how potential climate change will affect mountain plant species. The present study investigates the potential distribution of Himalayan Boxwood (B. wallichiana) under current and future climate scenarios using an ensemble modelling approach. The resu...

CITATION Wani ZA, Pant S, Bhat JA, Tariq M, Siddiqui S and Alshaharni MO (2024) Bibliometric analysis of studies on threat assessment and prioritization of species for conservation.

A bibliometric analysis of 349 scholarly documents published on the topic plant nativity and endemism from 1991-2022 was carried out using the 'bibliometrix' tool, developed through the R programming language. The results revealed a significant increase in the number of publications on plant nativity and endemism research since 1991. Of the total o...

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change

The escalating conflict between human and wildlife due to competing demands for limited space and resources has raised concerns worldwide, and understanding the dynamics of this conflict is crucial for devising effective strategies and policies. The present study is an attempt to carry out a bibliometric analysis of the published literature on the...

Among all available antimicrobials, antibiotics hold a prime position in the treatment of infectious diseases. However, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has posed a serious threat to the effectiveness of antibiotics, resulting in increased morbidity, mortality, and escalation in healthcare costs causing a global health crisis. The ov...

The present study attempts to comprehensively study the floristic elements of Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary (GWLS), Kashmir Himalaya. During the present study 364 species of vascular plants belonging to 227 genera and 74 families were recorded from the sanctuary. A total of 18 communities (10 within forest and 8 within alpine zone) were identified. Fo...

Olea ferruginea Royle is a wild Olive species commonly known as Indian or African Olive. In India, it is distributed in the Northwestern Himalaya, from Jammu and Kashmir to Uttarakhand, at an altitude of up to 2400 m amsl. The present study aims to determine the composition and community structure of Olea L. forests in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Dur...

Studies from different parts of the world have generated pieces of evidence of climate change’s effects on plant phenology as indicators of global climate change. However, datasets or pieces of evidence are lacking for the majority of regions and species, including for the climate-sensitive Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. Realizing this gap in info...

The present study was carried out to assess the floristic diversity and community characteristics in the forest and alpine zone of Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary (GWLS), Kashmir Himalaya. A total of 123 sites were selected along an elevational gradient (2300–4200 m a.m.s.l) in each and every accessible aspect and habitats from July 2018 to June 2022. T...

This study was carried out in the Tarai region of Uttarakhand, India to estimate the carbon stock and sequestration potential of Dalbergia latifolia and Melia composita plantations of different ages (4 and 6 years old). A total of 14 regression equations using one variable, dbh (diameter at breast height), were primarily selected for both of the tr...

The Himalayan region is home to one of the world’s most diverse and multifaceted mountain systems and is particularly prone to climate change. Climate change is a serious worry in the Himalaya because of its probable impacts on the economy, ecology, and environment, as well as downstream areas. Climate change has the potential to irrevocably affect...

Elevational gradient, slope, and aspect offer a unique opportunity to explore the response of plant species under changing environmental conditions. The present study aimed to analyze the species diversity and distribution patterns with respect to altitude, aspect, and habitat types in the Kashmir Himalayas. Considering major aspects and habitats,...

Elevational gradient, slope, and aspect offer a unique opportunity to explore the response of plant species under changing environmental conditions. The present study aimed to analyze the species diversity and distribution patterns with respect to altitude, aspect, and habitat types in the Kashmir Himalayas. Considering major aspects and habitats,...

Plant resources have been used by humans for their wellbeing for ages. Tribal communities live in far flung areas in close proximity with forests and have a rich cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of forest resources. The present study was carried out in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir to document the traditional knowledge of pla...

Environmental contamination with a myriad of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is triggered by various natural and anthropogenic activities. However, the industrial revolution has increased the intensity of these hazardous elements and their concentration in the environment, which, in turn, could provoke potential ecological risks. Additionally, mo...

Environmental contamination with a myriad of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is triggered by various natural and anthropogenic activities. However, the industrial revolution has increased the intensity of these hazardous elements and their concentration in the environment, which, in turn, could provoke potential ecological risks. Additionally, mo...

Simple Summary In the rural areas of the Himalaya, ethnobotanical knowledge is crucial for preserving plant diversity and treating a variety of diseases. Ethno-veterinary medicines can provide leads for drug development, but probably a more practical and lucrative exercise would be to develop a preferred preparation by pharmacological research, and...

The implementation of cutting-edge agricultural practices provides tools and techniques to drive climate-smart agriculture, reduce carbon emissions, and lower the carbon footprint. The alteration of climate conditions due to human activities poses a serious threat to the global agricultural systems. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from organic waste...

The present study is an attempt to evaluate the Conservation Priority Index (CPI) of species, habitats, and communities for their conservation and management planning in the Kashmir Himalayas in India. The present study is an attempt to prioritize 361 plant species, 18 plant communities (10 within the forest zone and 08 within the alpine zone), and...

The present study is an attempt to evaluate the Conservation Priority Index (CPI) of species, habitats, and communities for their conservation and management planning in the Kashmir Himalayas in India. The present study is an attempt to prioritize 361 plant species, 18 plant communities (10 within the forest zone and 08 within the alpine zone), and...

Simple Summary Elevation has a significant impact on the distribution of plant species. However, the structure and distribution patterns of Himalayan vegetation are poorly explored, and research on species composition along an elevation gradient in these mountain ranges is still deficient. Plant species richness is supposed to diminish with altitud...

Buxus wallichiana, an economically important endemic tree species of Himalaya is facing a serious survival threat from overexploitation and anthropogenic habitat destruction. Habitat suitability was mapped in order to predict the most potential areas for habitat conservation and species reintroduction in Northwestern and western Himalaya using Maxi...

In the changing climatic conditions, species distribution modelling is considered as a key strategy to estimate the probable influence of climatic variabilities on the habitat ranges of any species. The present study explores the potential distribution of Aconitum heterophyllum under current and future climatic scenarios. The results unfold that th...

The present study aims to assess the community composition, tree species diversity and regeneration potential in six forest sites at an altitudinal gradients (ranging from 2300 to 3200 m) in moist temperate coniferous forests of Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary, Kashmir Himalaya. The tree species were sampled from 10 quadrats of 10 m × 10 m, whereas, sap...

Natural colorants or dyestuffs are an essential faction of non-timber forest products that are widely used for coloring purposes in various industries. Of course, now-a-days synthetic dyes are used as a coloring agent but due to their various environmental, social and health problems, people are shifting from synthetic to natural coloring agents. P...

Present study provides information on biomass utilization, fuel wood species diversity, their regeneration status, and impact of fuel wood harvesting in Mornaula Reserve Forest (MRF) in Kumaun, India. A total of 34 plant species (32 trees and 2 shrubs) were collected by the inhabitants for fuel, belonging to 22 families, dominated by Rosaceae (04 s...

Abiotic stress adversely affects plant growth and productivity and leads to the production of increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) that leads to oxidative stress. In order to avert this stress, numerous regulators such as phytohormones and potassium are applied. Potassium is added to soil as fertilizer and is generally added together with nitrog...

Pteridophytes are non-seeded, dispersal relies on spores. Spores, when exposed to favorable conditions, germinate giving rise to gametophytic generation. Gametophytes have the ability to grow on different soil conditions, on tree branches, bryophyte mats and other dark substrates that do not allow light to enter. They ultimately result into sporoph...

Buxus wallichiana is an economically valuable tree species of Indian Himalayan Region. Considering its economic importance and income generation potential in the Rajouri-Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir, present study was carried out to assess its economic value and cultural contribution through quantitative ethnobotanical approaches. Further, th...

Since times immemorial, spices play an imperative part in the lifestyle of local inhabitants throughout the world. Spices have provided frequent role all the way through history, including as coloring and flavoring agents, preservatives, food additives, and medicine. Spices are also familiar for ample range of therapeutic potentials, like antisepti...

Aconitum heterophyllum is a precious endemic medicinal plant of Northwestern Himalaya. It possesses a number of curative effects and is accounted for having diuretic, hepatoprotective, antipyretic, analgesic, antioxidant, alexipharmic, anodyne, anti-atrabilious, expectorant, immunostimulant, febrifuge, anthelminthic, anti- cancerous, anti-diarrhoea...

Background: The study is an attempt to document the medicinal plants used in traditional health care systems in Rajouri-Poonch region of Himalaya. The study also highlights some direct relationships of botanical diversity with various social and cultural aspects, along with quantitative indices to validate the data investigated. This study presents...

Betula utilis D. Don (Betulaceae), commonly known as Himalayan Birch or Bhojpatra especially in Indian Himalayan Region is socio-culturally and ecologically valued and considered a keystone species which plays a significant role in the functioning of the timberline ecosystem. It forms an integral part of day-to-day life of the Himalayan people, as...

Weed is defined as ‘a herbaceous plant not valued for use or beauty, growing wild and rank, and regarded as cumbering the ground or hindering the growth of superior vegetation’ (Zimdahl in Fundamentals of weed science. Academic Press, San Diego, C.A., p. 556 1999). Weeds are those plants which are harmful, interfere with the agricultural operations...

Economically important plants of district Rajouri, J&K contains about 300 plant species which include pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms. Taxonomic description, ethnobotany, pharmacology, phytochemistry of all the plants is given. Further, clear field photographs of each plant is added for easy identification of the plant species.

The natural populations of Dactylorhiza hatagirea, have been greatly affected due to incessant exploitation. As such, studies on its population attributes together with habitat suitability and environmental factors affecting its distribution are needed to be undertaken for its conservation in nature. Present study aims at accessing an impact of ant...

Herbal healthcare forms the most favored system for curing various ailments of the people residing in remote areas of Himalayan region. Gujjar and Bakerwal tribes inhabit the hilly areas of Pir Panjal region of J&K along with their livestock and rely on the surrounding bio-wealth for their healthcare needs. But, proper documentation of traditional...

Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary (GWLS) hosts large number of medicinal plants and is a rich repository of indigenous knowledge and practices. In present day scenario such indigenous knowledge is disappearing in new generations day by day with the advent of modernization. Therefore, an effort has been made to document the aboriginal uses and practices of...

Villages in the Indian Himalayan Region have a rich repository of the indigenous knowledge and practices. Documentation of such knowledge is urgently required in view of the advent of modernization. Therefore, an attempt is made to document the indigenous uses and practices of the plants utilized by the local inhabitants of the Gulmarg Wildlife San...

Ethnobotany and Biodiversity Conservation (Hard cover)

Weeds are widespread unwanted plants which pose a significant threat to ecosystem worldwide due to their high competitive success rate, adaptability and tolerance to adverse environmental conditions. They generally have a negative connotation and attempts to control them have proved costly with minimum results. Weed plants are estimated to cause 30...

The present study is carried out in Ladakh to document the indigenous knowledge on bio-resources management. People here practice various indigenous techniques for storage, use and management of their local resources. Some of the indigenous practices for storage of cultivated crops (i.e., food grains, vegetables, and fruits), fuel, fodder and sever...

p>The family Anacardiacea, best represented by the species Pistacia integrrima Stewart ex Brandis, is known worldwide for its manifold uses. It is widely used to cure various diseases like cold, cough, asthma, fever, vomiting and diarrhea, etc., and widely used in modern medicine. Therefore, an attempt has been made to assess the medicinal potentia...

A dark scaled Dryopteris dickinsii has been collected from Rajouri. This taxon is a diploid apomict, having a chromosome count of ‘n’=82 and a spore-out-put of 32 spores per sporangium. Its identity is not yet resolved and further study needs to be made especially of the Japanese/Chinese D. namegatae.

Pittosporum eriocarpum Royle (Pittosporaceae) an endangered tree species is collected and reported for the first time from the Kangri, Dhamrol village of Bhoranj block which is quite near to Bhareri of Jahu road of district Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, North West Himalaya. This makes another locality record for an endangered tree species in the Nort...

2 Thannamandi one of the biodiversity rich areas of district Rajouri, covers a total area of 229 km. The altitude ranges between 1100 – 2000 m and supports subtropical to temperate vegetation and offers congenial climatic conditions favourable for luxuriant growth of the vegetation including ferns. Field collections were made from 2012 to 2013 for...

Indexed in Chemical Abstract Services (USA),. Indexed in Elsevier Bibliographic Database (Scopus and EMBASE) SCImago Journal Rank 0.129 Impact factor 0.67* Rapid and Easy Publishing Rapid and Easy Publishing Rapid and Easy Publishing Rapid and Easy Publishing The " International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences " (IJPBS) is an international journ...

Trans Himalaya of the Indian Himalayan region is repository of indigenous knowledge and practices. Recent re-emergence of herbal medicine along with the ever- escalating threats to biodiversity and the intensifying biopiracy controversies have necessitated an urgent need of documentation of the traditional use (s) of bioresoures. Therefore, an atte...

The Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary (KhWLS) located in the Kullu district of northwestern Himalaya and covering an area of 14 km 2 has not been explored for documenting the structure and composition of vegetation. In this study we examine the site/habitat characteristics, assess the diversity of tree species, delineate forest tree communities, assess th...

The family Orchidaceae, best represented by the species Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D.Don) Soo, is known worldwide for its manifold uses. It is widely used to cure various diseases like dysentery, diarrhoea, chronic fever, cough, stomachache, wounds, cuts, burns, fractures, general weakness, etc., and widely used in modern medicine. Therefore, an attem...

Indian Himalayan Region is very well known for the medicinal plant wealth. The representative, natural and unique medicinal plants are used for curing various diseases/ailments including cancer and income generation. In view of high value of the medicinal plants of IHR, an attempt has been made to; (i) assess and review the medicinal plants with an...

The state of Jammu and Kashmir harbours a rich diversity of economically important plants. A perusal of literature indicates that study pertaining to the diversity, nativity, endemism, rarity, review of in-situ & ex-situ conservation programmes, agrotechniques, medicinal plants in pharmaceutical preparations, trade and problems related to cultivati...

The family Buxaceae, best represented by the species Buxus wallichiana, is known worldwide for its manifold uses. Therefore, an attempt has been made to assess the current status and utilization pattern in Jammu and Kashmir region. Generally, Buxus is used for making wood craft, fuel, and fodder and for other purposes. Due to over exploitation of t...

A field trip was undertaken in the Mornaula Reserve Forest of Kumaun, West Himalaya, India. A collection of plants was made from this reserve forest at an altitude ranging from 1500-2200m amsl. Local people were contacted for the local names and uses of plants growing there. They are used as medicine, edible, fuel, fodder, timber, fiber, making agr...

The remote villages of the Indian Himalayan region are repository of the indigenous knowledge and practices. Documentation of such knowledge is required in view of the day-by-day disappearing knowledge in new generations. Therefore, an attempt has been made to document the indigenous uses and practices of the plants utilized in household remedies b...

Agroforestry system constitutes one of the major sources of livelihood and is an integral part of the economy of the inhabitants of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). Ironically, very few studies are available on the agroforestry system of the IHR. A study focussing on diversity, nativity, endemism and economic importance of the trees and shrubs consti...

The Himalayan Yew (Taxus baccata subsp. wallichiana) is an endangered native high value medicinal plant of the Himalayan Region. The several medicinal properties of the bark and leaves of this species have increased its risk of extinction due to pressures for utilization. It is also subjected to harvest for fuelwood. The species does not regenerate...

Himachal Pradesh, in the Indian Himalaya, has a rich diversity of medicinal plants, which are widely used. This paper brings together existing information with the results from recent field surveys. A total of 643 species of medicinal plants are identified; many different plant parts are used for the treatment of various ailments. The number of med...

In the Indian Himalayan Region predominantly rural in character, livestock is one of the main sources of livelihood and integral part of the economy. Livestock mostly rely on fodder from wild. The diversity, distribution, utilization pattern, nativity, endemism, rarity, seasonality of availability, nutritive values, perceived economic values and pr...

Hypericum perforatum L. is a high value vulnerable medicinal plant of the Indian Himalayan Region. Seeds of this species showed poor germination. In present study, of the total 15 pre-sowing treatments tried, 13 significantly (P < 0.05) stimulated seed-germination, where GA 3 (150 mM), KNO 3 (150 mM) and NaHClO 3 (15 minutes) were found to be most...

Assessment of plant diversity of the Reserve Forests of the west Himalaya and prioritization of communities for conservation have not been given much attention. Therefore, the study has been conducted in a biodiversity rich Mornaula Reserve Forest between 1500-2200m to analyse the structure, composition of the forest communities including richness...

Assessment of plant diversity of the Reserve Forests of the west Himalaya and prioritization of communities for conservation have not been given much attention. Therefore, the study has been conducted in a biodiversity rich Mornaula Reserve Forest between 1500-2200m to analyse the structure, composition of the forest communities including richness...

Assessment of plant diversity of the reserve forests of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) has received little attention. The present study was conducted in Mornaula Reserve Forest, one of the biodiversity-rich reserve forests of West Himalaya, and examined the diversity, distribution and indigenous uses of economically important plant species. A total...

In the Indian Himalayan Region, the studies focused on diversity of the plants used for treating liver diseases/ailments have not been carried out so far. Therefore, the present attempt has been made to study the diversity, distribution pattern and conservation status of the plant species used for treating liver diseases/ailments in that region. A...

Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don), Soo (Panja, Salam-panja or Hath-panja) is a critically endangered native and high value medicinal plant of the Himalayan Region. The several medicinal properties of the roots of this species have increased its risk of extinction due to pressures for utilization. It is also subjected to browse by cattle's. The specie...

The genus Hypericum is known worldwide for its traditional and modern uses. Therefore, an attempt has been made to assess the diversity, distribution and indigenous uses of the species of this genus in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). A total of 27 species of Hypericum were recorded from the IHR, of these 17 were economically important. Thirteen...

The documentation of traditional knowledge would appear to be the "need of the hour" in view of the current demand for herb based products. Documentation serves to ensure the preservation of traditional information for future generations. It is also a step forward in the creation of a database on ethnobotanical notes. An attempt therefore, has been...