Traditional ecological knowledge and conservation challenges in Paddar Valley of Kishtwar Himalaya, Jammu and Kashmir

In the Himalayan region, traditional rural livelihoods predominantly rely on agricultural activities and collection of forest products. The present study aims to document the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and to understand local perception regarding biodiversity threat in the Paddar Valley of District Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. Data collection was carried out in 6 major villages from August 2022 to September 2024 from 750 informants using semi-structured questionnaires, open ended interviews and group discussions. Participants were selected through snowball sampling approach, a non-probability sampling technique to identify knowledgeable participants through referrals, which is useful in remote areas where expertise is concentrated. The authors recorded 75 medicinal plant species belonging to 69 genera and 31 families. Asteraceae (14.6%) and Apiaceae (10.6%) were the most dominant families. Leaves were the most commonly used parts (33.3%), followed by roots (25.3%) and fruits (19.2%). These species served multiple purposes, primarily medicinal (77.61%) as well as for food, fodder and dye production. Local people observed decline in population of many species including Picrorhiza kurroa, Fritillaria cirrhosa, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Dolomiaea costus attributing to factors such as climate change, deforestation, overexploitation, pollution and urbanization. The study recommends implementation of other effective area based conservation measures (OECMs) or other interventions to enhance landscape connectivity and fostering community engagement to mitigate biodiversity loss and contribute to large-scale conservation goals including the 30 × 30 target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, fostering mass awareness and community engagement is crucial for the successful conservation and management of biodiversity in the region.