ABSTRACT
The temperate Himalaya zone is amongst the most vulnerable and hazardous environments in the world, which is a rich repository of biodiversity of the valuable medicinal plant such as Swertia chirayita, Valeriana jatamansi, Bergenia ciliata, Coptis teeta, Acorus calamus, etc. The nature of these plants are very fragile and its conservation becomes very difficult because lack of suitable seed germination technique, cultivars, and improved cultivation practice. Under the influence of climate change, mountains are likely to experience wide-ranging effects on the environment, natural resources including biodiversity of medicinal plants, and socioeconomic conditions. Very little is known about the vulnerability of mountain ecosystems to climate change and its impact on high-value medicinal plant and its biodiversity pattern. Observations revealed that a good number of known and unknown medicinal plants are found in the forests of northeastern Himalayan (NEH) region in a temperate zone, and they are wiped out by miscreants or smugglers. Local inhabitants use some of these plants as herbal medicine, which is highly effective against some dreaded diseases. The unscientific, over-, and irregular exploitation of medicinal plants from their natural habitat has resulted in very fast depletion as well as the extinction of some important plant species due to shifting climate patterns. The threat of extinction can be reduced by developing in-situ and ex-situ conservation by adopting suitable agronomic management. Seed germination to crop harvesting becomes very challenging for growers as well as for research workers. An investigation was undertaken under Regional Research Station (Hill zone), Kalimpong, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidayalaya from 2005 to 2014, in consultation with local growers and scientists regarding various aspects of the cultivation of high altitude endangered medicinal plant species. The main objective was to generate some field-level preliminary data or observations on crop husbandry aspects for the welfare of the local community and future research program. Further, these plants have curative properties due to the presence of various complex chemical substances in different compositions, which are found as secondary plant metabolites in one or more parts of these plants. Exploitation of Swertia chirayita and Valeriana jatamansi mainly from wild sources, results in depletion of resource bases and ultimately endangering the species. Realizing the importance, it has been felt necessary to undertake both in-situ, as well as ex-situ conservation. Ex-situ conservation may be done in the form of depositing the live materials in the gene bank, establishing field gene banks and also promoting the cultivation of medicinal plants. Marketing of valuable medicinal herbs becomes a very challenging aspect especially for Coptis teeta, Swertia chirayita, etc., and this needs to be channelized with proper trade and marketing forum aided through various new schemes from state or central government.
