Conservation, Cultivation, and Sustainable Use of High Altitude Medicinal and Aromatic Plants for Socio-Economic Development: A Review

Human beings use plants for a multitude of purposes, of which, a globally prominent one is for their medicinal values. Medicinal plants serve as a major source of income for high-altitude inhabitants in the Himalayas, particularly in countries like India, Nepal, and Bhutan. However, people here harvest huge volumes of medicinal plants indiscriminately, risking their sustainability and causing anthropogenic threats. The global market demands for Uttarakhand’s medicinal and aromatic plants are high, and several of these plants are exclusively found in Himalayan states. Himalayan states have a variety of agro-geo-climatic conditions that are ideal for medicinal and aromatic plants. Uttarakhand, being home to a diverse range of wildlife, as well as fragrant plants, has subtropical to tropical soils and agro-climatic conditions. The Alpine is a biodiversity hotspot with a diverse assortment of wild animals. But as a result of the low agricultural production, there is a lack of industrial growth leading to underdevelopment and poverty in such areas. Consequently, Himalayan inhabitants travel to the plains to take advantage of biodiversity to improve their lifestyle and socioeconomic status.