Umaisar Gull Ganie
Kulgam, Jan 20: A prolonged dry spell triggered in Kashmir valley has emerged as a ‘serious threat’ to medicinal biodiversity, with experts warning that several high-value medicinal plant species are witnessing a sharp decline and edging towards extinction.
Experts said that the world-famous and costliest Gucchi (morel) mushrooms found along the Pir Panjal axis are witnessing a sharp decline.
They said medicinal plants play a crucial role in healthcare, particularly in areas with limited access to modern medical facilities.
“Globally, nearly 80 percent of people in developing countries rely on traditional herbal medicine as it is easily available, affordable, and generally associated with fewer side effects. The Indian Himalayan region is considered a major reservoir of medicinal biodiversity,” the study said.
It also said that of the 8,644 recorded plant species in the region, around 1,748 possess medicinal value. “J&K alone hosts more than 300 medicinally important plant species.”
Zahoor Ahmad Reshi, a researcher said that the medicinal plants and herbs were once found in abundance across the Pir Panjal axis as well as the plains of the Himalayan range.
These include Arnebia benthamii, used for heart ailments, Trillium govanianum, rich in antioxidants and used for menstrual disorders and cancer treatment, Saussurea costus, used for cough, asthma, and digestive issues, Cordyceps militaris and morel mushrooms, locally known as Kanngech and sold as Gucchi in markets outside the region.
He said that while these species were earlier found in large numbers, climate change over the last 25 years has drastically altered their natural habitat.
“Medicinal herbs are now on the verge of extinction due to prolonged dry spells over the past two decades. Climatic requirements such as precipitation and freezing conditions have changed. As a result, these species are now confined to higher forest reaches and that too in very limited quantities,” he said.
It also said that endangered plant species could be conserved through controlled indoor cultivation by replicating their natural ecosystem, including temperature, light, and other climatic factors, although such measures are costly.
