Lichens of Tehri Garhwal: Exploring Diversity, Distribution, and Ethnobotanical Significance in the Western-Himalayan Region

Background: Lichens are used traditionally in the North-Western Himalayas due to their uses as food, medicine, perfumes, spiritual values, etc. The present study is an attempt to measure the diversity of ethnobotanically significant lichens in the Tehri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand state. The paper explains the use of lichens as food, medicine, and for other purposes by local communities. The study was done on the Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand in the Northwestern Himalayas. Methods: Data collection was done by various field visits and questionnaires. Food value (FV), ritual and spiritual value (RSV), ethnoveterinary value (EVV), medicinal value (MV), and dye-producing value (DV) value were noted along with demographic data of the respondents. Results: In our study, we found that lichens were used significantly by local people of the area and the lichen genus Hypotrachyna cirrhata was the most used lichen. Family Parmeliaceae was the most well-used family in the study area. Conclusions: Quantification and documentation of this data will help in the conservation of lichens in the future, as well as preserve lichens as a key species in ethnobotanical studies. Keywbords: Lichen, Ethnobotanical, Ethnomedicinal value, Food value