Traditional Ethnomedicinal Knowledge among the Gujjar Community of the Haridwar Forest Division, Uttarakhand
| Vol-6 | Issue-02 | February-2021 | Published Online: 14 February 2021 PDF | ||
| DOI: https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2021.v06.i02.035 | ||
| Author(s) | ||
| Dr. Naina Srivastava 1; Dr. Onima Sharma 2 | ||
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1Department of Botany, D.A.V (PG) College, Dehradun 2Department of Sociology, D.A.V (PG) College, Dehradun |
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| Abstract | ||
| Traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge represents an important component of indigenous healthcare systems and contributes significantly to biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management. This review examines the ethnomedicinal knowledge of the Gujjar (Van Gujjar) community inhabiting the Haridwar Forest Division of Uttarakhand, with particular emphasis on the socio-cultural, ecological, and conservation dimensions of their traditional healthcare practices. The study, guided by the Socio-Ecological Systems (SES) framework, synthesizes existing literature on the identification, preparation, and therapeutic use of medicinal plants employed for treating a wide range of human and livestock ailments. The review highlights the community's intimate dependence on forest ecosystems, the intergenerational transmission of indigenous knowledge, and the scientific relevance of many traditionally used medicinal plants. It further identifies major threats, including habitat degradation, climate change, modernization, and the erosion of traditional knowledge. The study emphasizes the need for systematic documentation, community participation, sustainable harvesting, and interdisciplinary research to preserve this valuable ethnomedicinal heritage and promote biodiversity conservation. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Ethnomedicinal Knowledge; Van Gujjar Community; Medicinal Plants; Haridwar Forest Division; Uttarakhand; Indigenous Knowledge | ||
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