Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
Phyto-sociological assessment of selected ethnomedicinal plants: a case study from Dzongri Goecha La, Eastern Himalaya, India
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Research Articles | Published: 08 April, 2025
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Keywords: Ecotourism, Grazing, Habitat fragmentation, Kanchenjunga biosphere reserve, Sikkim
Abstract
Present paper dealt with the phytosociological status of 20 ethnomedicinally important plants (EMIPs) in three forest patches (grazed forest patch, anthropogenically affected forest patch, undisturbed forest patch) of Dzongri-Goecha La area of Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve of Sikkim, between 3500 and 4500 m asl. Species diversity and dominance patterns were significantly correlated to environmental variables including altitude and slope pattern as well as intensity of anthropogenic pressure. Among the three forests patches species richness ranging from 31 to 47 species, while the degree of maturity of each stand ranging from 16.11 to 17.93. Highest similarly of species composition of about 38.89% between plots with undisturbed forest patch and anthropogenically affected forest patch, while lowest degree of similarity occurs between undisturbed forest patch and grazed forest patch (c. 15.79%). The highest Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′-3.48) was found in undisturbed forest patches, followed by grazing-damaged forest patches (H′-3.07) and anthropogenically disturbed forest patches (H′-3.01). The results of this study may help in better management of the medicinal plant conservation of Dzongri Goecha La area of Sikkim.
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Author Information
Central National Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, India