THE ETHNOBOTANY OF CHITRAL VALLEY, PAKISTAN WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO MEDICINAL PLANTS

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out to collect information regarding the various indigenous uses, especially the medicinal plants in Chitral valley. A total of 83 taxa are reported as being used locally for various purposes. Our results suggest that root is the major plant part used in most of the recipes. Majority of the recipes are prepared in the form of decoction from freshly collected plant parts. Mostly a single species is used and are mainly taken orally. All of these plants are collected from the wild, 7 of which are reported as scarce locally. Unsustainable collection methods, poor post harvest methods, soil erosion and intense deforestation are the main causes of the depletion of local flora. As the Chitrali people still partly depend on medicinal plants for majority of their ailments, therefore loss of these plant resources will, to a certain extent, hamper the existing healthcare system in the area. Measures for the conservation of plant resources especially medicinal plants of Chitral valley are urgently needed.