Counting the cost: High demand puts Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B.Fedtsch. in jeopardy

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Monika Sharma
Manisha Mathela
Rupali Sharma
Himanshu Bargali
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1364-2769
Gurinderjit S. Goraya
Amit Kumar
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7517-4345

Abstract

In the Himalayan region, there have been several reports of medicinal species being reported in peril in the recent decade. Keeping the sudden spurt in price and high demand of yet another highly threatened MAP Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B.Fedtsch. commonly known as ‘Kalazeera’ or black cumin of Himachal Pradesh in view, the current communication attempts to raise high conservation concern to preserve the species in the wild in the Lahaul and Pangi landscape of Himachal Pradesh. Based on intensive market surveys and individual interactions with the local populace and traders comprising 255 respondents in the landscape covering 12 villages of Pangi and five villages of Lahaul, the present study revealed that predominant factors that pose a major threat to the wild populations of the species include high market demand, increased illegal trade, destructive harvesting, relentless collection of seeds, competitive wild collection and its restricted population.

Article Details

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Author Biography

Amit Kumar, Wildlife Institute of India

Scientist, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun 248002 Uttarakhand, India

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