Effects Of Seasonal Livestock Migration On Medicinal Plants Richness And Distribution In Malam Jabba, Swat, Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Of Pakistan

Abstract

The coniferous forests are crucial for the livelihoods of rural communities and provide essential ecological services that sustain ecosystems. The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of nomadic grazing on medicinal plant variety in Malam Jabba. This study uses a systematic and thorough strategy to analyze the possible influence of nomadic grazing on medicinal plant variety in order to fill this information gap. The process entails carefully selecting quadrats within the study area in order to collect representative samples of plant species. To ensure reliable and unbiased data collection, many criteria like as transects, random sampling, and quadrat size are considered in the study design. This study intends to give crucial insights into the conservation and management of medicinal plant resources in this region by concentrating on the influence of nomadic grazing on medicinal plant diversity in Malam Jabba, Swat. The study revealed that 42 and 27 medicinal plants species were found in the protected and unprotected site respectively, during the month of April, 2024. In July 2024, at the start of monsoon,37 Medicinal plants species were found in unprotected site, while 85 species were recorded from the site that was banned for nomadic grazing since 2000 . The study further highlighted a decline in economically and therapeutically significant plant species, alongside an increase in rare and threatened medicinal plants. Further research is necessary to quantify species availability and recommend effective conservation and production strategies.