INDIGENOUS USES OF THE PLANTS OF MALAKAND VALLEY, DISTRICT DIR (LOWER), KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

The study was carried out to collect and document the indigenous knowledge of the local community about the plants of Malakand valley, district Dir (Lower), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Ethno-medicinal knowledge was obtained by using semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 200 local inhabitants were found utilizing 52 plants of 37 families for various ethnobotanical purposes, notably as timber wood, fodder and forage for cattle, condiments, for shade, usage in construction and agricultural tools etc. Whole plant was mostly used for ethno-medicinal potentials followed by leaves. The common treated ailments in the study area were stomach, intestinal, chest and diabetes. It was confirmed that deforestation and overgrazing are the main causes for loss of plant wealth. Urgent measures such as NAGHA SYSTEM (Control of grazing and deforestation by local community for a specific time) is required to conserve the plants in the study area.