Visitor Satisfaction and the Ex Situ Conservation Potential of Medicinal Plant Garden: Implications for Biodiversity Conservation and Public Engagement

Herbal gardens play a pivotal role in the conservation of medicinal plant diversity, while simultaneously serving as centres for education, recreation, and public engagement. This study assesses visitor perceptions, satisfaction, and the conservation significance of Dr. Sushila Tiwari Herbal Garden, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to June 2023 among 150 visitors using a structured questionnaire covering demographic, visitation, usage, and satisfaction-related questions. Responses were summarised with descriptive statistics, and the conservation status of the collection was assessed against the IUCN Red List. All respondents agreed that the garden has a role in conserving medicinal plants. Most rated their visit as excellent (52.7%) or good (40.0%); more than 92% intended to revisit and 87.3% would recommend the garden. Pathway design and maintenance received the highest share of ‘strongly agree’ responses (88.0%), followed by interpretive signage (75.3%) and plant diversity (74.7%), while landscape aesthetics received the lowest (63.3%). The collection contained 105 medicinal plant taxa, including one Critically Endangered, four Endangered, one Near Threatened, 61 Least Concern, and 38 Data Deficient medicinal plant taxa. The nakshatra vatika, an astro-botanical planting of 27 tree species, links the collection with local cultural knowledge. Therefore, the garden contributes to ex situ conservation of plants, germplasm preservation and biodiversity conservation.