Conservation And Use of Wild Plants By Indigenous people Of Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, India

Situated in the lap of north-western Himalaya the picturesque state of Himachal Pradesh, spreading over an area of 55,673 sq. kms, is ethnobotanically and phytogeographically a very diverse terrain and inhabited by various ethnic groups. The area is  rich repository of medicinal and aromatic plants, diverse cultures and traditions. For their sustenance,  inhabitants use plant products for different purposes like, edible, fodder, fibres, medicinal, aromatic for flavour, oil production and for ethnoveterinary medicines. The present communication aims to document  traditional knowledge about  wild plants of Hamirpur District  and their uses by  local inhabitants. About 196 plants belonging to 160 genera and 70 families are documented for their utilization. Some edible and medicinal plants have great economic value and are highly linked with socio- economic development of tribal communities of  state and also provide edible and fodder resources to  communities in addition to making environment of that area pollution free.