Survey Record of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Chamba Forest Division, Himachal Pradesh

(i) The survey report brings on record 155 medicinal and aromatic plant species, of which only 40 are known to possess constant market demand and thus exploited regularly. (ii) Areas reputed to be rich in drug resources have not been found to be so rich after this survey. This is because of constant exploitation of drugs from these areas without providing protection for regeneration, etc. Steps should now be taken to bring extraction of drug and aromatic plants on systematic and scientific lines before these areas are completely exhausted. (iii) Cultivation of drug and aromatic plants of category "A" described above (leaving a few exceptions) be taken up at suitable areas wherever economically feasible. Exotic plant species such as Atropa belladonna, Digitalis purpurea, D. lanata, Hyoscyamus niger, Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium and such other drugs be introduced and cultivated on large scale to developing indigenous resources for the Pharmaceutical industry. (iv) The Chamba Minor Forest Produce Exploitation and Export Act 2003 (S) be revised and made applicable throughout the Himachal Pradesh.