Anthropogenic pressure mediated reduction in population size of medicinal and aromatic plant species in western Himalaya, India

Population survey was carried out on few medicinal and aromatic plant species (MAPs) in their natural habitats in western Himalaya, India. Vegetation sampling was conducted through vertical belt transect method in the areas of occurrence of the selected species using quadrat method. Anthropogenic factors e.g. grazing and destructive harvesting are major threat for population reduction in most of the selected species in study sites. Factors responsible for population reduction and methods for their conservation were discussed. Such rare, endangered and threatened MAPs should be conserved through both in situ and ex situ methods.