Traditional Uses of Medicinal Tree Species in Renuka Forest Division, Western Himalaya

Abstract

Himalayan forests are the most important source of medicinal plants, which are used by local people. Renuka Forest Division (RFD) with 1018 km2 lies in the outer western Himalayan region of Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh in western Himalaya. The entire tract of RFD is mountainous and varies in elevations from 620 to 3647 m asl. The present study is focused on the traditional use of medicinal trees in the study area, which was gathered through questionnaire survey and also from relevant literature. A total of 30 medicinally important tree species are reported, of which 30% trees were used for their bark, 26.67% for fruits, 16.67% for leaves, 10% for roots, 10% for seeds and 3.3% trees each for flowers and whole plant by the local people. The present study can serve as baseline information on medicinal trees and would be helpful in conservation of these important resource as well as traditional knowledge of the area.