A Reckon on the Conservation and Sustainability of Abroma augusta Linn of Sikkim Himalaya

Sikkim is rich with Traditional medicinal plants. In North East India, it holds a paradigm in traditional medicinal plant practices. The cumulates of modern traditions arising from various indecent factors are crushing the region towards void. Abroma augusta Linn is becoming one of the serious victim of this trends. Abroma sp. was one of the prominent traditional medicine plants in Sikkim. It happened to be used in dysmenorrhoea and rheumatic pains. Moreover, the plant now is considered to be a raw source of diabetic medicine.

The increasing ratio of diabetes in the state is letting researchers to rethink upon the traditional species. In within decades, the sudden decrease in the density of this species from the region where it was abundant in past has caused researchers to the ponderings. The main objective of the study is to find the important medicinal uses of Abroma augusta Linn in the state and calibrate the exact abundant status of Abroma augusta in the region and create awareness for the conservation of this species.

The study was done by conducting field surveys in different major locations of Sikkim. The information of medicinal uses of this species was collected from the local traditional experts. The GIS & Remote Sensing and R software were used to complete this study. Important medicinal uses of Abroma augusta were gathered. More importantly, an alarming condition in the existence of this valuable species was recorded in every major spot of the state, where the species was abundant earlier.

In between 1980 to 1990, the species was found to be a regular plant of the villagers, but the later decade showed reduction of species from the region. Recently, the species is under critical threat of extinction from the region. The survey found that factors such as deforestation, loss of traditional knowledge, modernization of society and dependence on commercial medicines were responsible for terrible decrease in density of the species.

The study concludes solemn alertness, to avail and exert efficient efforts to revive and regain the popular status of the species in the state.