Predicting the potential distribution of Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soo-an important medicinal orchid in the West Himalaya, under multiple climate change scenarios.

Climate variability coupled with anthropogenic pressures is the most critical driver in the Himalayan region for forest ecosystem vulnerability. Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D.Don) Soo is an important yet highly threatened medicinal orchid from the Himalayan region. Poor regenerative power and growing demand have resulted in the steep decline of its natural habitats populations. The present study aims to identify the habitat suitability of D. hatagirea in the Western Himalaya using the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt). The community climate system model (CCSM ver. 4) based on representative concentration pathways (RCPs) was used to determine suitable future areas. Sixteen least correlated (< 0.8) bioclimatic, topographical and geomorphic variables were used to construct the species climatic niche. The dominant contributing variables were elevation (34.85%) followed by precipitation of the coldest quarter (23.04%), soil type (8.77%), land use land cover (8.26%), mean annual temperature (5.51%), and temperature seasonality (5.11%). Compared to the present distribution, habitat suitability under future projection, i.e., RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 (2050 and 2070), was found to shift to higher elevation towards the northwest direction, while lower altitudes will invariably be less suitable. Further, as compared to the current distribution, the climatic niche space of the species is expected to expand in between11.41-22.13% in the near future. High habitats suitability areas are mainly concentrated in the forest range like Dharchula and Munsyari range, Pindar valley, Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, West of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, and Uttarkashi forest division. The present study delineated the fundamental niche baseline map of D. hatagirea in the Western Himalayas and highlighted regions/areas where conservation and management strategies should be intensified in the next 50 years. In addition, as the species is commercially exploited illegally, the information gathered is essential for conservationists and planners who protect the species at the regional levels.

Population change of Trillium govanianum (Melanthiaceae) amid altered indigenous harvesting practices in the Indian Himalayas.

ETHNOBOTANICAL RELEVANCE: Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don (Melanthiaceae) is valued as a traditional medicinal herb in the Himalayan region. Applications include treatment of cancer, hypertension, neurasthenia, giddiness, arthritis, dysentery, inflammation, sepsis and reproductive disorders. Its range is highly specific, and limited to cold, shaded and moist habitats at 2400-3500 m a.s.l. Rhizomes are gathered from wild populations for trade, and this has recently emerged as a significant source of income among indigenous people of the Indian Himalayan region. AIM: To assess the impact of changing rhizome prices on T. govanianum in the Indian Himalayan region by observing the status of existing populations and assessing the typical methods used for gathering and trade of rhizomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ecological attributes were assessed in 17 sites from Tirthan Valley (Himachal Pradesh), Munsiyari and Tunghnath (Uttarakhand). Socio-economic attributes assessed through communal focus groups and interviews with 579 medicinal plants gatherers and 19 traders, using semi-structured open ended questionnaires. RESULTS: Population decline was highest in Munsiyari, followed by Tirthan Valley and Tunghnath, indicating that the species may become locally extinct in some areas. Methods used for gathering did not consider regeneration. CONCLUSION: Gathering of T. govanianum from wild populations is unselective and unmanaged, raising the potential threat of local extinctions. Sustainable utilization and effective conservation is needed to protect the species and maintain community incomes. A status of 'threatened' is justified for the species in the Indian Himalayan region, due to its slow life cycle, specific habitat requirement, low population density, and commercial value.