Community Involvement and Conservation of Taxus baccata in Pangi Valley, Himachal Pradesh

Taxus baccata L. is a rare and endangered species in India. It is a medium-sized (10-20 m tall) evergreen tree. It produces the anti-cancer drug Taxol (paclitaxel). Taxol is also used for treating bronchitis, asthma, epilepsy, snake bites, scorpion stings, internal injuries, lung diseases, and diabetes. The main reasons for the decline of Himalayan yew are deforestation, browsing by herbivores, and commercialization of plants for extracting the drug. We concentrated our study in Pangi Valley (Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh). We worked with the local community to develop a strategy for conservation and sustainable use of Taxus baccata. We collected twigs of Taxus from the forest of Tandah (alt. 3900 m) of Pangi Valley, Chamba district. We rooted the twigs without any chemical treatments with the assistance of the local inhabitants near Purthi Village. We proved Taxus baccata could be propagated and grown in a nursery in Pangi Valley. Taxus cultivation can create income for local communities. We suggested Pangi Valley in Himachal Pradesh, India, as an Important Plant Area (IPA). We also felt participation of the government is a prime need for constant income through medicinal plants cultivation using ethnobotanical knowledge.