Inventory of ethnobotanicals and other systematic procedures for regional conservation of medicinal and sacred plants

The plant diversity of western Madhya Pradesh is reducing at the fast rate due to anthropogenic disturbances and environmental degradation. Disturbance is a major factor responsible for the fragmentation of forest vegetation; as a result, there is a preponderance of small patches, and some of them are still preserved as sacred groves because of strong religious beliefs held by the indigenous people of Jhabua district of western Madhya Pradesh. Dungari mata sacred grove is situated near Katthiwada village in Jhabua district of western Madhya Pradesh that considered being residence of local deities. The Bhil and Bhilala are the most dominant tribe of the study area and depend upon the forest resources for their livelihood. About 339 species, 286 genera and 82 families were found in the grove. Fabaceae (38 species), Poaceae (33 species) and Asteraceae (20 species) were dominant families, and the Ipomoea was the largest genus, with five species. About 69 tree species, 25 shrubs, 157 herbs, 40 grasses, 3 epiphytes and 45 climbers and lianas were found in the groves. Some threatened plant species are growing over here that are not found elsewhere, and they comes under various threat categories. About threatened taxa, 81 species were recorded from the grove that comes under various threat categories. The present status of the grove is of concern, as it is gradually declining under constant anthropogenic pressure. Their better management and protection are important for the conservation of plant diversity in the region and also for the benefit of indigenous tribes of the state.