An Ethnobotanical Survey on Fuel Wood and Timber plant Species of Kaghan Valley, Khyber pakhtoonkhwa Province, Pakistan

Abstract

A survey was conducted to explore the fuel wood species and timber producing species of Kaghan valleys, Pakistan. Consumption pattern and impact on the forest resources were also taken into consideration. A questionnaire was used as a survey instrument to obtain desired data. For this study, 10 villages were randomly selected. In each village, 10 persons that were randomly selected were interviewed. Only one person was interviewed from a household. A total of 100 respondents were interviewed. The studies revealed that, 75 plant species belonging to 41 families were utilized as fuel wood and 41 species belonging to 25 families were utilized as timber. Three tree species; Quercus incana, Cedrus deodara and Taxus wallichiana was found endangered. There is a dire need to conserve these species.

Key words: Ethnobotany, fuel wood, timber species, Kaghan valleys, Khyber Pakhtoon Khwa Province, Pakistan.