Pages: 1-15

Abstract

The study was conducted for ethnobotanical study of district Karak for a period of one year during 2014-2015. The study indicated that the inhabitants of District Karak utilized 45 plant species, 21 herbs, 12 shrubs and 12 trees, for four ethnobotanical categories including fuel, fodder, medicinal and mechanical uses. Some useful species were collected near human settlements regardless the diversity of species at distant area. The main threats to plant are anthropogenic activities. The general presence of herbs and shrubs species in semi-arid zone reduces the mechanical uses of the plants. Otherwise, most of the trees would have been mostly used as a mechanical source such as timber purpose. However, increasing education, awareness of the people due to the service in Government institutions, the notion of the sustainable use of resources is rising among the people of the area. This sustainable uses will conserve and preserve natural resources and biodiversity. Over grazing, commercial timber cutting and in some cases lack of individual ownership were the reasons of unsustainable exploitation of natural resources while pluralism in medicinal system, partial decrease in timber exploitation as income or household source due to more reliability on bricks, concretes and T-Iron for the roof of the houses etc. were the positive signals for preservation and distribution of the local flora which were observed in the area. Keywords: Ethnobotany, District Karak,