Interdependence of biodiversity, applied ethnobotany, and conservation in higher ecosystems of northern Pakistan under fast climatic changes

Abstract

Northern Pakistan is host to three of the world’s biggest and most spectacular mountain ranges: the Himalaya, the Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush. The altitude of this region varies from ± 1400 to 8611 m with climate ranges from tropical at the base of the mountains to permanent ice and snow at the highest elevations. This area is endowed with a great diversity of flora and fauna due to variations in altitude, rainfall, and climate. The native communities have centuries-old knowledge about the plant resources utilization and depend directly or indirectly on these resources to meet their daily needs in the form of vegetables, fruits, medicines, wood, timber, fodder, nuts, honey, spices, food, and many other Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). Currently, biodiversity in this region is strongly influenced by dynamic climatic changes like rise in global temperature, pollution, fluctuation in rainfall, population pressure, agricultural expansion, deforestation, extensive livestock grazing, resource demand, and commercial timber extraction that intensify the rates of habitat loss, habitat degradation, and wildlife exploitation. The unique floral and faunal wealth of the mountain ranges is also undergoing structural and compositional changes due to climate change. Globally, recent studies predict that a temperature rise of 2-3°C over the next century could result in as many as half of the world’s plant species being threatened with extinction. Species richness and threats suggest that this area needs strong and prompt conservatory management of biodiversity. The study recommends the development of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, botanical gardens, and herbaria based on in situ and ex situ conservation strategies in northern areas of Pakistan to protect regional biodiversity for global acceptance. Indeed, conservation of biodiversity is fundamental to achieving sustainable development in this area, particularly, and world, generally. Maintaining biodiversity is not only crucial for the sustainability in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, wildlife, tourism, health, irrigation, and power sectors in northern Pakistan but also a lifeline for the downstream people in other parts of Pakistan.