Ecological footprint and sustainability aspects of commercially harvested non-timber forest products (medicinal and aromatic plants) in Hindu Kush Himalayan region of Swat Pakistan

Abstract

Background Environmental and ecological stability has been compromised globally as a result of increasing demand and commercial abuse of natural resources. Un-sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) has substantially challenged the survival of many wild plants, especially medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), resulting in the extinction of many important species either at local or global levels. To study the ecological aspects and consequences of commercial harvest of medicinal and aromatic plants in Hindu Kush Himalayan region District Swat, a study was designed to carry out extensive market surveys, and observe commercial harvesters in wild to find the symptoms of over or destructive harvesting. We examined three perspectives: herbal market, collectors and post-harvest survival of these species. Results Among 70 targeted species, about 69% were found to be harvested exclusively from wild, while only 7% were found to be collected from cultivated source. Hence our three-way investigation helped to differentiate among species with no sustainability issues, and species with conservation urgencies, i.e. Species like Acorus calamus, Podophyllum hexandrum, Trillium govanianum, Morchella esculenta, Paeonia emodi were found struggling for survival. This research demonstrates that amplified commercialization of these medicinal plants play a vital role in the decline of the resource and species loss. The economic value was also found to have a considerable impact on the survival of plant species (i.e. in case of Trillium govanianum and Morchella esculenta), which are collected from the wild in bulks to make more economic benefits hence compromising post-harvest survival of these species. Conclusion With the increasing market demand and commercialization of these herbal species, District Swat should be considered a priority zone for medicinal plant conservation and promotion of sustainable extraction practices. Also engage local people of the area to conserve aspects of these ecological resources which are critically important for their livelihoods, which may also lead to a long-term public support for conservation of globally exhausted ecological resources and threatened biodiversity.