The Himalayan region in India is host to the world’s highest ecosystems stretching
3,500 km from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh in the north east part of
India. Traditional people residing in this biodiversity rich region have an understanding
ofthe properties of plants and animals, the functioning of ecosystems and techniques of
using and managing them, thus using the myriad resources such as timber, fibers,
medicinal plants and edible plants and have also been engaged in bringing forth the
subtle and innovative uses of the same so that maximum benefit is accrued (Emery,
1997; Negi and Palyal, 2007; Dutta and Dutta, 2005).