Wild Plant |
The forests of the Valley provide a wide range of non-timber
forest products with subsistence or cash value. About 600 plant
species are found in the Valley out of which 130 plant species
have customary uses among the people of Palas Valley including
70 species that are believed to have medicinal properties. These
plants are used for human beings as well as treatment of animals.
Morchella, Valeriana, Saussorea and Viola are also sold on a
commercial basis usually in Pattan, Allai, Besham and Mingora
market. of NTFPs play a vital role in economy of the people
of the valley and NTFPs is more important to them than timber
harvesting.
Morel
Mushroom
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Plants such as Morel (Morchela spp.), Geranium (Geranium
wallichianum) and Valeriana (Valeriana wallichii) together
generate an about 7 – 8 million rupees per annum. Besides,
most of the people rely on medicinal plants for their and
their livestock treatment. Wild plants (wild vegetable) is
main source of vegetable to the people living in upper palas
valley which is also dried and consumed during winter. There
are approximately 40 species of plants which are used as vegetables
including some tree species like Pagoyi (wild fig) and Makoch
who tender leaves are used as vegetables. These plants are
usually collected by women.
Wild fruits like white and black grapes, walnut, bera, fig
and persimmon are found in the valley major portion of which
is consumed by the people however surplus quantity is occasionally
sold in the local market.
The livestock in the valley mainly depends on natural forests.
The forests are used for grazing of livestock during early
summer and autumn migrations while alpine rangelands provide
summer grazing. Foliage from the subtropical Oak forests provide
vital winter fodder for stall feeding. Grassed near the villages
are cut in late summer and stored for feeding to livestock
in winter.
Torch wood is used mainly form Deodar and Blue Pine.
Bee keeping and honey collection is quite common in the Valley.
This practice traditional and it significantly contributes
to economy of the local people.
The forests of the Valley provide a wide range of non-timber
forest products with subsistence or cash value
1. Medicinal plants used for treatments of human being and
animals
2. Medicinal plants with cash value
3. Wild vegetable
4. Wild fruits like grapes, walnut, fig persimmon
5. Feed for livestock grazing and browsing in spring and summer
stall feeding in winter
6. Firewood
7. Torch wood
8. Honey
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