Utilization of plant resources in Dang district, West Nepal

This paper aims to highlight the uses of forest resources in Purandhara, Panchakule and Goltakuri Village Development Committees (VDCs) of Dang district, western Nepal. The ethnobotanical data was collected through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) that involved discussion with local people and key informants, through semi-structured questions and informal conversations. Vulnerability of plants used in the study area was assessed by adapting the Rapid Vulnerability Approach (RVA). Altogether 85 plant species belonging to 79 genera and 56 families were recorded in the study areas. Twelve plant species were found to be used for various purposes other than medicinal. They were used as food, fodder, in construction, in religious purposes and even in yielding dyes. Seventy three plant species were found to be medicinal in properties for treating 144 different ailments. Remedies for 27 ailments were reported as new uses. The most common way of admission of medicine was oral (76.71 %) followed by external or topical (35.6 %) and nasal (1.27 %). The RVA test showed Dalbergia sissoo (with 15 scores) and Terminalia alata (with 14 scores) as most vulnerable ones.