Aconitum violaceum.

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve is situated in Uttarakhand State of India. It derives its name from the 2nd highest peak of India, the Nanda Devi, located at the core of this reserve. The Biosphere Reserve is unique due to its rich biological and cultural wealth and is home to many endemic and threatened herbaceous plants having undiscovered medicinal properties; the medicinal value of some of these plants has been realised by tribals, who have been using these to cure diseases since time immemorial. Other plants hold a potential that needs to be explored with further research.

The advent of modernisation of the area has led to an increase in the popularity of medicinal values of endemic herbaceous plants which further resulted in high demand and money value of these plants. But on the flipside, it has also given rise to a growing conflict between economic development and the maintenance of unspoiled ecosystem. And it is leading to degradation of its rich plant-diversity in ecologically sensitive area.

Keeping above problems in view, the major goals of this project are:

1. Provision of knowledge base

a) To assess the current status of diversity and distribution of herbaceous plants in conserved sites. It is aimed to enhance the knowledge base about ecosystem. Secondly, it will aid in identification of the current status of endemic and threatened plants in the region.

b) To collect and compile the scientific evidences of/from nature and to evaluate the extent of anthropogenic activities prevailing in the study site. It will help to understand the influence of human activities on conserved ecosystem.

2. Creating Awareness

a) Highlight human activities which are affecting bio-diversity of ecosystem and increase awareness about the future aspects of these activities among people. It will evoke the need of conservation management plan for the affected area.

b) To identify the ecologically sensitive sites which require serious government interference in order to conserve the endemic and threatened natural resources.

3. Conservation management

a) To observe the present scenario of conservation programs and their applicability. This project is intended to improve the current conservation and development programs for sustainable development of the area.