A Welcome Note from the Editor

We are delighted and proud to welcome you to the second issue of Volume 2. Each article received and accepted is an important contribution to the already existing knowledge in the field of Biomedical Sciences. All the editorial team is excited about the progress of PBMJ as an international journal. As editors, we would like to express our heartiest congratulation to the team and welcome to the authors and readers. We are also grateful to the advisory board and managing editors. We hope that PBMJ can promote the academic and applicable research and improve the research activities and collaborations. We are aware of the bumps along the way, but we are determined to keep pursuing the research goals to meet the high quality standards and move forward with great courage. If you have any suggestions to improve, you may write to us as a reader. In the age of technology, we can actively conversate with the readers and get their feedback to improve the quality with their valuable input. PBMJ will continue to serve the Biomedical Sciences as an outlet for high-quality research. This is an exciting time for the journal and we look forward to working with authors, the Editorial board and the team to make PBMJ as a leading source for work in the space.

Biodiversity, Ethnobotany and Conservation Status of the Flora of Kaghan Valley Mansehra, Nwfp. Pakistan.

The present study was carried out to investigate floristic diversity, ethnobotanical profile and conservation status of important plant species of Kaghan Valley. The Valley is situated in the Northern Pakistan. It is 161 km long scenic wonderland with its towering Himalayan peaks, peaceful lakes, majestic glaciers and splashing water falls. The people are mostly poor, illiterate and are very much dependent upon plant resources. During the study 6 species of Bryophytes (6 families), 53 species of Pteridophytes (9 families), 12 species of Gymnosperms (4 families), and 775 species of Angiosperms (108 families), were collected, preserved and presented as checklist. The people of Kaghan Valley utilize 108 plant species as medicinal plants. Majority of these medicinal plants are used for multiple purposes. These include 91 species of Dicots, 09 species of Monocots, 06 species of Gymnosperms and 02 species of Pteridophytes. Among these ethnobotanically important plants, 27.77 % were found at risk regarding their conservation status. 2.77% were found critically endangered, 12.96 % endangered, 9.25 % vulnerable and 2.77 % near threatened. Seeds of 5 medicinal plants, i.e, Colchicum luteum, Hyoscymus niger, Aconitum heterophyllum, Geranium wallichii and Paeonia emodii, were collected from the wild and deposited at Forest Nursery Besian near Balakot as an ex-situ conservation effort. Medicinal plants and edible mushrooms are produced in bulk in Kaghan Valley and are considered as a fair source of income generation for local communities. Beside these, potatoes, peas, beans, maize, walnut and apple also yields good return. The floristic diversity of Kaghan Valley is threatened by the effects of natural and human impacts. Natural causes are hailstorm, drought, snowfall, thunderstorm and earthquake. Among the human causes, fuel wood consumption, illicit cutting for timber, encroachment on forest land, lopping for fodder, grazing, grass cutting, fires and tourism are important. For indigenous people in developing countries like Pakistan where exploitation of environment is necessary for survival, help is needed in constructing alternatives for sustainable development, in order to establish biodiversity conservation much profitable. Multiple uses of forests, development of agro-forestry, silviculture and sustainable exploitation of wild species are some of the alternatives that have been suggested to be considered as future strategy for the development of Kaghan Valley. This part of Himalayan region contains immense biological resources of benefit mankind.