Threats to Medicinal Plants

The following sections discuss the threats and issues related to medicinal plants in the Astore valley, but such threats exist in other parts of Northern Areas as well. Due to the following threats, about 30% of the total reported medicinal plants species of Astore are endangered, vulnerable or threatened. The number of threatened medicinal plants in Astore has risen to 33 out of which 5 are endangered, 18 are vulnerable and 10 are rare (Shinwari et al., 2000).

Over-exploitation

According to Iqbal Hussain, President AMHRWO, about 80% of the total medicinal plants being exported from Northern Areas come from Astore valley (Hussain, 2004). Before Partition large quantities of Artemisia brevifolia and Sausorea lappa were extracted from upper parts of Astore and exported to India as well as abroad under longer term contracts awarded to dealers by the then State of Jammu and Kashmir (Rasool, 1998). Before Partition juniper berries were also regularly collected and exported to India.

After Partition, from 1950 to 1954, 3000 large size bags (approximately 1,20,000 kg) of Artemisia were exported from Astore to London (Rasool, 1998). Almost all of the quantity of Carum bulbocastanum (kala zira) being exported from Northern Areas also comes from upper parts of Astore valley. According to an estimate given by the locals about 4000 kg of Carum bulbocastanum is collected every alternate year from Rattu and adjacent areas of upper Astore. Another important plant is Picrorhiza kurrooa, which has become endangered due to over exploitation from Qamri, Burzil pass and Deosai plains (Khan et al., 2000; Rasool, 1998). Podophylum emodi (bankakri) extracted from the valley under regular contracts by the Forest Department after Partition has also become endangered (Rasool, 1998). Over harvesting is common for the more valuable plants such as kurth, Ephedra, Artimesia, sea buckthorn, and Berberis species. Increasing population and enhanced awareness about very few side effects of medicinal plants also encourage their over harvesting (http://www.sdpi.org/amhrwo/)

Lack of proper management

Lack of proper management systems is also responsible for uncontrolled extraction of medicinal plants in the Northern Areas, especially the Astore valley. The only system adopted so far by the Northern Areas Forest Department (NAFD) is to establish control through permits and contracts for extraction and transportation of medicinal plants. This includes commercial exploitation of these plants. The NAFD does not have sufficient capacity or system for thorough assessment of these forests for timber, fuel wood, fodder and medicinal plants production for future sustainable management.

Due to uncontrolled collection of medicinal plants in the absence of proper management systems, the locals usually collect these plants prematurely using improper techniques like uprooting of plants, collection of wrong part of the plant etc. that result in poor quality of plant material. For example in Astore zeera is collected prematurely resulting in poor quality of seed, which not only affects the quality of the product but also affects germination of the plant from the seed. According to Mr. Iqbal Hussain, trial plots established by AMHRWO to test germination of zeera from seed source have not shown good results mainly because of poor quality of seed due to premature collection (Rasool, 1998).

Free grazing & agriculture

Free grazing of livestock is another threat to the viability of medicinal plant production in the region. Uncontrolled grazing is leading to degradation of pastures containing numerous medicinal herbs and shrubs. Also, expanding agriculture is also contributing to the elimination of many medicinal plants. For example, more than 80% of the total population in Astore valley is highly dependent on agriculture and livestock for its livelihood, thus putting tremendous pressure on pastures and associated natural resources. Due to limited cultivable land there is rapid encroachment of forests and pastures. With the introduction of improved variety of potato a big patch of forest and pasture has been converted to agriculture land in Rama, near Astore town. Conversion of this natural land cover to agricultural land and livestock grazing areas is leading to degradation of natural flora including medicinal plants.

Lack of incentives

Poverty, limited cultivable land and lack of alternatives coupled with the need for longer term investment and difficult marketing discourage the locals from medicinal plant cultivation. Moreover, due to difficult access and absence of primary processing units the transportation cost of medicinal plants is high, leaving little profit margin for the growers (Rasool, 1998).

Loss of knowledge

With the introduction of modern allopathic medicine the traditional local knowledge about medicinal plants is being lost rapidly in the main towns of the region while in the hamlets and villages it is usually confined to the aged people and herding segments of communities.