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National parks are considered assets of an area in conserving and preserving flora and fauna and recreational purposes, but these parks also provide valuable folk benefits for the local peoples. This study aimed to document the folk benefits obtained by local inhabitants from different indigenous angiosperms and their products in Sheikh Buddin National Park. Information from 250 respondents (240 male, 10 females) was gathered randomly about plants' medicinal and folk uses in the park. One hundred and sixteen plants species belonging to 99 genera and 50 families were recorded and identified with the help of available literature. Of these, monocots were represented by 17 species under 15 genera and 5 families, while dicots were represented by 99 species belonging to 84 genera and 45 families. The results reflect that 24% of plants were used as fodder, 29% fuel, 20% medicinal, 17% construction, and furniture, while 8% were used for ornamental purposes. The majority of the plant species were used as multipurpose. The most important medicinal plants were Caralluma edulis (Pamana), Withania ovata (Aspeghol), Pla-ntago ciliate (Aspeghol), Tribulus terrestris (Maklindey), and Fagonia indica (Spelaghzaie). Leaves and shoots were frequently utilized as remedies. We conclude from the study that angiosperms flora of the park can be used for different folk purposes and treating gastrointestinal, skin, and blood disorders ailments. In addition, we recommend the sustainable use of the flora to maintain the proper floristic composition in the studied site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National parks are considered assets of an area in conserving and preserving flora and fauna and recreational purposes, but these parks also provide valuable folk benefits for the local peoples. This study aimed to document the folk benefits obtained by local inhabitants from different indigenous angiosperms and their products in Sheikh Buddin National Park. Information from 250 respondents (240 male, 10 females) was gathered randomly about plants' medicinal and folk uses in the park. One hundred and sixteen plants species belonging to 99 genera and 50 families were recorded and identified with the help of available literature. Of these, monocots were represented by 17 species under 15 genera and 5 families, while dicots were represented by 99 species belonging to 84 genera and 45 families. The results reflect that 24% of plants were used as fodder, 29% fuel, 20% medicinal, 17% construction, and furniture, while 8% were used for ornamental purposes. The majority of the plant species were used as multipurpose. The most important medicinal plants were Caralluma edulis (Pamana), Withania ovata (Aspeghol), Pla-ntago ciliate (Aspeghol), Tribulus terrestris (Maklindey), and Fagonia indica (Spelaghzaie). Leaves and shoots were frequently utilized as remedies. We conclude from the study that angiosperms flora of the park can be used for different folk purposes and treating gastrointestinal, skin, and blood disorders ailments. In addition, we recommend the sustainable use of the flora to maintain the proper floristic composition in the studied site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was intended to identify the endowment of livelihood assets and to assess their role in adoption of livelihood strategies in district Bhimber, AJ&K. A basic survey was carried out to collect primary data from 310 households selected through convenient sampling. Endowment of livelihood assets was calculated by constructing asset indices. Asset weights were obtained using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Assets indices revealed that district has performed best on physical capital (index value 0.63) and human capital (index value 0.59) dimensions. It was found that foreign remittance is the most popular livelihood strategy (29% of households' main source of income) in the district. Apart from this, livelihood strategies are fairly diverse in different tehsils (sub-divisions) of the district. Results of Multinomial Logit Model demonstrate that human capital has the strongest positive role to enable households to enter into more rewarding livelihood strategies. Study recommends to take appropriate steps to reduce pressure on natural resources, to make further investment in human capital to enable people entering into more rewarding livelihood strategies and to educate households to use remittance money for job creating activities to enhance employment opportunities and to augment household income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]