SUSTAINING LIVELIHOODS IN THE ARID MARGINS: ASSESSING THE DIVERSITY AND UTILIZATION OF WILD PLANT SPECIES IN LESSER CHOLISTAN, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Despite being in a fragile environment with a mostly heterogeneous ethnic group, the Lesser Cholistan desert rangeland has a high diversity of wild plant uses and a rich cultural background. The study's objective was to identify potential wild plant species, explore their socioeconomic applications, and understand their contributions to household income. The data were gathered through a questionnaire by interviewing local residents during a field survey of 95 respondents, employing methods such as group discussion, household surveys, key informant interviews, market surveys, and informant consensus. Statistical tools like Relative Frequency Citation (RFC) and Frequency of Citation (FC) were used for data analysis. Informants from Lesser Cholistan reported the use of 55 wild plant species from 25 families, comprising 8 tree species, 17 shrubs, 19 herbs, 10 grasses, and one mushroom species. The Poaceae family was predominant (6 spp.), followed by Chenopodiaceae (5 species) and Mimosaceae (4 species). These plant species served various purposes, with a strong emphasis on their use as livestock fodder (61.8%) and traditional medicine (60%). More than half of the species (52.7%) had multiple uses, with 36% used as human food (vegetables, fruits, and salad), 21.8% for firewood, 18.2% for sale in local markets, and 9.1% for ritual purposes. Certain plants, including Capparis decidua, Prosopis cineraria, Zizyphus nummularia, and Calligonum Polygonoides, stood out due to their versatility, serving as fodder, food, healthcare, and fuelwood while also contributing to income generation. These plants are considered prime candidates for domestication and further development. The present study reveals that the respondents used various wild plants for different purposes, helping them save money and earn additional income by selling the byproducts of local plants.