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Diversity of Medicinal Plants among Different Tree Canopies

Author

Listed:
  • Muhammad Zubair

    (Department of Forestry and Range Management, FAS&T, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60000, Pakistan)

  • Akash Jamil

    (Department of Forestry and Range Management, FAS&T, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60000, Pakistan)

  • Syed Bilal Hussain

    (Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60000, Pakistan)

  • Ahsan Ul Haq

    (Department of Forestry and Range Management, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan)

  • Ahmad Hussain

    (Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, Pakistan)

  • Din Muhammad Zahid

    (Department of Forestry and Range Management, FAS&T, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60000, Pakistan)

  • Abeer Hashem

    (Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box. 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Abdulaziz A. Alqarawi

    (Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah

    (Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

The moist temperate forests in Northern Pakistan are home to a variety of flora and fauna that are pivotal in sustaining the livelihoods of the local communities. In these forests, distribution and richness of vegetation, especially that of medicinal plants, is rarely reported. In this study, we carried out a vegetation survey in District Balakot, located in Northeastern Pakistan, to characterize the diversity of medicinal plants under different canopies of coniferous forest. The experimental site was divided into three major categories (viz., closed canopy, open spaces, and partial tree cover). A sampling plot of 100 m 2 was established on each site to measure species diversity, dominance, and evenness. To observe richness and abundance, the rarefaction and rank abundance curves were plotted. Results revealed that a total of 45 species representing 34 families were available in the study site. Medicinal plants were the most abundant (45%) followed by edible plants (26%). Tree canopy cover affected the overall growth of medicinal plants on the basis of abundance and richness. The site with partial canopy exhibited the highest diversity, dominance, and abundance compared to open spaces and closed canopy. These findings are instrumental in identifying the wealth of the medicinal floral diversity in the northeastern temperate forest of Balakot and the opportunity to sustain the livelihoods of local communities with the help of public/private partnership.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Zubair & Akash Jamil & Syed Bilal Hussain & Ahsan Ul Haq & Ahmad Hussain & Din Muhammad Zahid & Abeer Hashem & Abdulaziz A. Alqarawi & Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah, 2021. "Diversity of Medicinal Plants among Different Tree Canopies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:2640-:d:508623
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vandebroek, Ina & Van Damme, Patrick & Van Puyvelde, Luc & Arrazola, Susana & De Kimpe, Norbert, 2004. "A comparison of traditional healers' medicinal plant knowledge in the Bolivian Andes and Amazon," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(4), pages 837-849, August.
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