Talk:Shina language

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

--203.99.172.27 (talk) 13:46, 24 December 2007 (UTC)DARD ASTORY

                           MEDICAL PLANTS IN ASTORE VALLEY
                      SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN NORTHERN AREAS 

Astore Valley, a Hub of Medicinal Plants in Northern Areas of Pakistan (Present potential, constraints in conservation & future prospects) by Mohammad Ibrahim Khan, WWF-Pakistan, 2004. Astore valley, a sub-division of Diamer district adjoining the eastern side of Nanga Parbat (8,126 m), is about 120 km long and 5,092 sq. km in area. The entrance of the valley is located about 60 km southeast of Gilgit with four side-valleys. The valley has more than 100 villages with a total population of 71,666 (Census Report 1998). The majority of people practice subsistence agriculture and livestock is the main source of livelihood complemented by seasonal work in down districts of the country. Due to its diverse landscape and climatic conditions the valley provides excellent habitat for a variety of commercially important medicinal plants. This paper quotes various studies on medicinal plant surveys and these are as follows: A detailed medicinal plants’ survey in Astore, Shigar and Khaplu valleys reported 39 medicinally important plants out of which 21 were found in Astore. Similarly another survey found 34 medicinal plants in Bulashbar nallah, Astore whereas 77 medicinal plants were reported from Chilim, Burzil, Minimarg and Deosai in Astore valley in a separate study. Since the British era until to-date, Astore valley has been the largest exporting area of medicinal plants in Northern Areas. Over-exploitation, free grazing, deforestation, conversion of forest and pastures to other land uses and lack of proper management system are major issues in the conservation of medicinal plants. Compared with forests and wildlife, most medicinal plants are able to give economic return in a shorter term, future prospects to make them sustainable income generators are good through the introduction of suitable participatory management system including marketing.

                                               --203.99.172.27 (talk) 13:46, 24 December 2007 (UTC)DARD ASTORY