Threat Categorization of Floristic Diversity of Murari Devi and Surrounding Areas in Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Mountains are home to some of the world’s most threatened and endemic species (including medicinal plants), as well as to some of the poorest people, who are dependent on the biological resources. Therefore, present attempt has been made to assess the threat categories of species in Murari Devi and surrounding areas and suggest conservation options. A total 80 species (32 Trees; 28 Shrubs and 20 Herbs) belonging to 68 genera and 46 families have been identified as threatened from Murari Devi and surrounding areas. Thirty one (31) species have been found to be Near Threatened. The remaining species fall under the Least Concern category. Along an altitudinal gradient, the maximum rare endangered species (71 spp.) were distributed in 700-1300m zone, followed by 13011800m (09 spp.) zone. Also using new IUCN criteria, 05 species have been categorized as Endangered; Vulnerable (05 spp.) and Least Concern (01 sp.) for Himachal Pradesh and total 03 species; Endangered and Vulnerable (01 sp.) were under global threat categories, whereas 02 species i.e., Berberis aristata (Rare) and Dioscorea deltoidea (Vulnerable) have been recorded in the Red Data Book of Indian Plants. The overexploitation, habitat degradation and changing environmental conditions may lead to the extinction within a few years. Therefore, regular monitoring of population and habitats, development of conventional protocol, establishment of species in-situ conditions and associated habitats and replication of this approach in other parts of Indian Himalayan Region have been recommended. So that the gene pool of this unique group of plants could be maintained posterity.