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Betula utilis D. Don (Betulaceae), commonly known as Himalayan Birch or Bhojpatra especially in Indian Himalayan Region is socio-culturally and ecologically valued and considered a keystone species which plays a significant role in the functioning of the timberline ecosystem. It forms an integral part of day-to-day life of the Himalayan people, as it is deeply associated with the culture of the locals. The historical uses of Betula utilis and its subsequent over exploitation to meet-out day-to-day requirements, market forces coupled with global warming put pressure on its natural population and have caused loss of habitat in many of its native grooves in the entire Himalayan Region. The decline in the size of population of Betula utilis is due to its area of occupancy, extent of occurrence, potential level of exploitation, effects of introduced taxa and attack of pathogens. Further, it grows in high altitude tree line zone which is almost inaccessible and most vulnerable region due to global warming or climatic shift. In this backdrop, keeping in view the multiple uses of the species, the present study aims to review and document the ecological parameters, traditional uses, commercial aspects and conservation and management concerns of this valuable species. Keywords Bhojpatra * Indian Himalayan Region * Ecologically * Culturally * Over exploitation * Climatic shift, Introduction Betula L. (Betulaceae), a genus of trees and shrubs, occupies a broad longitudinal ranges in the Northern Hemisphere from sub-tropics to arctic, distributed in various habitats like bogs, highlands, [...]

The present study attempts to comprehensively study the floristic elements of Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary (GWLS), Kashmir Himalaya. During the present study 364 species of vascular plants belonging to 227 genera and 74 families were recorded from the sanctuary. A total of 18 communities (10 within forest and 8 within alpine zone) were identified. Forest zone of the sanctuary was represented by shady moist, dry, bouldery, rocky, riverine and exposed habitats; whereas the alpine zone was represented by bouldery, riverine and moist and exposed habitats. Of the total 364 reported plant species, 161 species were native to Himalayan region and the remaining i.e. 203 species were non‐natives. Out the total 161 native plant species, 82 were endemic to the Himalayan region. Further, 22 plant species were having threatened status in Jammu and Kashmir. Major threats to biodiversity within the sanctuary include overexploitation, habitat degradation, overgrazing, invasive species, human settlements, huge tourism influx and pollution. In the present study, based on the 'conservation priority index' (CPI) of the plant species, 51 plant species were assessed to be threatened in GWLS. Further, maximum CPI of dry and shady moist habitats and Aesculus indica–Pinus wallichiana mixed and Taxus wallichiana–Prunus cornuta–Aesculus indica mixed communities reveals that proper management of these prioritized habitats and communities would help in maintaining the natural ecosystems and conservation of species of the sanctuary. Present study recommends that awareness about the values of biodiversity for sustenance through organization of training workshops, awareness camps need to be created among the local inhabitants as well as visitors. Further, no in‐depth explorations for community characterization of forest and as well as alpine ecosystems of Kashmir Himalaya have been conducted; present study in the GWLS provides a template, which can be replicated in other protected as well as unprotected areas of the Kashmir Himalaya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among all available antimicrobials, antibiotics hold a prime position in the treatment of infectious diseases. However, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has posed a serious threat to the effectiveness of antibiotics, resulting in increased morbidity, mortality, and escalation in healthcare costs causing a global health crisis. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics in global healthcare setups have accelerated the development and spread of AMR, leading to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, which further limits treatment options. This creates a critical need to explore alternative approaches to combat bacterial infections. Phytochemicals have gained attention as a potential source of alternative medicine to address the challenge of AMR. Phytochemicals are structurally and functionally diverse and have multitarget antimicrobial effects, disrupting essential cellular activities. Given the promising results of plant-based antimicrobials, coupled with the slow discovery of novel antibiotics, it has become highly imperative to explore the vast repository of phytocompounds to overcome the looming catastrophe of AMR. This review summarizes the emergence of AMR towards existing antibiotics and potent phytochemicals having antimicrobial activities, along with a comprehensive overview of 123 Himalayan medicinal plants reported to possess antimicrobial phytocompounds, thus compiling the existing information that will help researchers in the exploration of phytochemicals to combat AMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]