Traditional plant use in Nepal has been documented for millennia. The importance of plants as medicine has not diminished in any way in recent times, and traditional medicines are still the most important health care source for the vast majority of the population.This paper examines the ethnobotany and traditional use of plants extracted from the vulnerable alpine zone in the Dolpa, Humla, Jumla and Mustang districts of Nepal.The results of this ethnobotanical study indicate that a very large number of plant species is used as traditional medicines. There were 107, 59, 44 and 166 species of ethnomedicinal importance in surveyed areas of Dolpa, Humla, Jumla and Mustang district respectively. Of these, 84 common species, used at least in two districts, were selected to enumerate their ethnomedicinal properties. The 84 species belonged to 75 genera and 39 families.The commonest species in this pharmacopoeia were: Allium wallichii, Cordyceps sinensis, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, and Rheum australe. A total of 21 species were most common in three districts and 59 in two districts. The genera Aconitum, Allium, Arisaema, Berberis, Corydalis, Gentiana, Hippophae, Juniperus and Rhododendron each possessed two species with ethnomedicinal use. Labiatae was the most medicinally important family with five species used, followed by Araceae, Compositae, Liliaceae, Polygonaceae, Ranunculaceae, Scrophulariaceae and Umbelliferae, each contributing four species.

Two community forests, Amaldapani and Juphal from Dolpa district, were selected for a study of quantitative analysis of tree flora. A total of 419 individual trees representing 16 species, 16 genera and 11 families were recorded. Total stand density and basal area were, respectively, 2100 trees ha-1 and 90 m2ha-1 in Amaldapani and 2090 tree ha-1 and 152 m2ha-1 in Juphal. Of the families, the Pinaceae was the most diverse, with 28 individuals representing five species and five genera, followed by the Rosaceae with three individuals representing two species and two genera. Pinus wallichiana, Abies spectabilis, Quercus semecarpifolia and Cedrus deodara had the highest importance value index and could therefore be considered the dominant species. Since the study area was diverse in tree population of conifers and deciduous forest tree species, it is essential to carry out further studies in order to establish conservation measures that will enhance local biodiversity. Key words: Vegetation, tree species, Pinus wallichiana, community forest, Dolpa Himalayan Journal of Sciences 2(3): 23-28, 2004

Background: Conservation of useful plants can be maintained and enhanced once the nature of a cultural landscape and knowledge and principles of resource utilization are understood. We studied the factors influencing indigenous knowledge of medicinal plant collection and utilization in the lower Kailash Sacred Landscape, Nepal.Methods: A total of 62 respondents aged ≥ 60 years, including 42 plant collectors and 20 traditional healers from nine villages of Baitadi, Dadeldhura and Darchula districts, far western Nepal were consulted for this study following snow-ball sampling and village references.Results: Results showed that the area is rich in useful plants and indigenous therapeutic knowledge. One hundred and sixty medicinal and 75 non-medicinal plant-uses from 44 species were documented from 30 sample respondents. The average number of useful plants reported by healers and elders was expectedly higher (11.4 ± 4.19) than the knowledge of laypeople. Women were more knowledgeable in identifying the useful plants. When classifying 27 uses according to the level of species redundancy, we found that 20 uses were 'not very redundant', six 'redundant' and one 'highly redundant'. Conclusion:Even though the life form and plant availability influence the plant use, the accessibility of habitats where the plant grow has stronger association with the plants' usefulness. The large number of 'non-redundant' uses indicates that plant use in study area is specific. The recent changes in socio-economy, culture, environment and land-use plague the conservation of plants resulting in jeopardy in integrity of plants, people and places.

Eleven species of mistletoes are widely used by different ethnic groups of Nepal for various purposes. The local people of the present study areas (one each at tropical and temperate region) were found using eight species of mistletoes for food, fodder and medicine. Noticeable use of the mistletoes is for healing bone fractures, dislocation and sprain. Key words: Indigenous use, mistletoes, Nepal. Banko Janakari Vol.15(2) 2005 pp38-42

Invasive alien species colonize aggressively, threatening native biodiversity. The success of invasive alien plants is due to their opportunistic exploitation of anthropogenic disturbances, the absence of natural enemies, and, frequently, their allelopathic competitive strategies. Invasive species can have a significant impact on development, affecting sustainability of livelihood, food security and essential ecosystem services and dynamics. Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng. and E. odoratum L. (forest killer, local name banmara) are unpalatable and highly competitive. They have taken hold in scattered sites throughout eastern and central Nepal, currently, they are also rapidly spreading westward. Efforts are being made to control established invasive species, but a better understanding of why species become invasive offers the possibility of taking pre-emptive measures. Key words: Invasive alien plant species, Eupatorium, biological control, livelihood Himalayan Journal of Sciences 1(2): 129-133, 2003