Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

EXPLORATION OF ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT FODDER PLANTS AND ITS EXTRACTION TREND BY THE VILLAGERS RESIDING IN THE SURROUNDING OF TIRTHAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, DISTRICT KULLU, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA

Shalu Devi Thakur, K. S. Kapoor and S.S. Samant

Abstract

An ethno botanical analysis was conducted in order to document the traditionally used fodder plants in the study area. The present investigation is based on the extensive survey and collection of plants from Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary, District Kullu, Himachal State in India, from March, 2009 to February 2011. The diversity of fodder plants is a proportion of the enormous biodiversity occurring in this part of the North Western Himalaya. A panorama of the biodiversity emerged in this study, which is of both tangible and intangible value for the livestock-and mountain communities living in the region. The findings suggest a very high scope of the utilization of this natural and uncultivated biodiversity for supporting livestock-based livelihoods in the region.