ROLE OF SEABUCKTHORN IN THE CONSERVATION OF FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS OF THE TEMPERATE HIMALAYAN REGION

摘要

Seabuckthorn (Hippophae spp.) is a thorny temperate bush that grows in temperate climates and is indigenous to the regions of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and some parts of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, Kumaon and Gharwal Hills of Uttrancha., the Laddakh area of Jammu & Kashmir and some parts of Sikkim (Dwivedi, 2001). It grows widely and abundantly in the temperate climates of Europe and Asia (Singh, 2000). In Asia, it is commercially grown in China, Russia, Nepal and Pakistan. It is regarded as a 'magic plant' because of its high nutritional value, medicinal properties, and its ability to replenish and conserve the soil in the fragile ecosystem of the temperate Himalayas. It is indigenous to the temperate Himalayan region, but it is paradoxical that few people know about its existence and tremendous medicinal value. It is time for research institutions, government agencies, and the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries to understand the global trends and benefits of evolving advanced technologies for utilizing seabuckthorn and bring about a new revolution in the Asian economy. This paper attempts to highlight the importance of seabuckthorn and its use in the sustainability of the fragile ecosystems of the temperate regions of Asia in general, and the temperate Himalayas in particular.