Description

Mastuj Valley District Chitral is a remote isolated part of Hindukush Range Pakistan. The valley has dry temperate climate in the lower parts and alpine climate in the upper parts that ultimately join permanent snow covered peaks. The valley sprawls over about 110 Km starting from Reshun up to Shandur and Broghil passes. The valley remained unexplored botanically in the past. This book provides first hand information on the diversity, conservation and palatability of flora of the valley. It reports 781 vascular taxa belonging to 85 families and 353 genera. There are 2 pteridophytes, 7 gymnosperms, 140 monocots and 630 dicot species. It is a beginning towards future illustrated flora. The local community is dependent on rangeland resources for their livelihood. Heavy deforestation and grazing pressure has destroyed the habitat for wildlife. The valley serves as range land for the domesticated livestock and wildlife. The valley contains valuable medicinal, fruit plants and endemic plant species. There is need for conservation of these resources for future generation. We believe that the present preliminary information will help taxonomists, botanists, range and wildlife managers.