DIVERSITY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF AQUATIC AND WETLAND PLANTS IN SELECTED WETLANDS OF MORVA (HADAF), DISTRICT PANCHMAHAL, INDIA

Wetlands are dynamic and vital components of the global ecosystem, offering essential services such as biodiversity conservation and water management. Aquatic macrophytes play a significant role in supporting aquatic life and sustaining the livelihoods of rural communities. However, limited conservation efforts threaten these valuable ecosystems. The present study documents the floristic composition and investigates the aquatic macrophyte diversity in selected wetlands of Morva (Hadaf) Taluka, Panchmahal district, Gujarat, India, during the 2023-24 growing seasons. A total of 56 species of aquatic and wetland plants belonging to 29 families were recorded. The study also highlights the ethnobotanical and socio-economic significance of these species, many of which are used in traditional medicine, food, fodder, and other rural practices. The findings underscore the urgent need to document and conserve wetland biodiversity to safeguard ecological balance and cultural heritage.