The importance of forests to protect medicinal plants: a case study of Khadimnagar National Park, Bangladesh

The article describes the status, distribution, diversity, and curative values of medicinal plants in Khadimnagar National Park, a protected area in northeastern Bangladesh. A stratified random sampling method was applied for the quantification of plants and we collected information on utilization patterns through direct observation and by interviewing older respondents using a semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 1684 plants of 50 species (42 families) were recorded to possess curative values. Of the 50 species, 22 trees, 12 shrubs, 10 herbs, and 6 climbers and 6 grass species were found belonging to 17, 10, 9, and 6 families, respectively. The low lands were found most favorable for medicinal plants (40%) followed by middle of the hill (34%). Plants identified within the…