ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDIES ON PLANT RESOURCES OF HAZAR NAO FOREST, DISTRICT MALAKAND, PAKISTAN

An ethno-botanical survey was carried out to collect information on traditional uses of plant resources of hazar nao forest, malakand, pakistan. about 90 vascular plant species, belonging to 56 families were utilized by the local people for various indigenous uses. out of these 90 plants, 72 were used as medicinal, 50 as fuel wood species, 32 as fodder plants species, 22 as edible fruit, 29 species for attraction of honey bees, 10 species utilized in agricultural tools, 11 species for fencing, eight species as timber, eight species reported as ornamental, eight species used for thatching and sheltering, seven species as vegetable and pot herb, six species were reported poisonous, four species important for veterinary medicines and 20 plant species had miscellaneous uses such as making of ropes, wooden spoons, kites, fans and brooms. plant remedies are mainly prepared through infusion, decoction and concoction and administered through oral route or applied to skin. data analyses indicated that the remedies were used to treat gastro-intestinal disorders, respiratory diseases, skeleto-muscular problems, cutaneous complaints, blood circulatory diseases and many others. field observations showed that deforestation, over grazing, agricultural expansion and unscientific collection, processing and preservation of natural vegetation are the major threats in the investigated area. measures for the conservation of plant resources of hazar nao forest are urgently needed.