SEABUCKTHORN
1. Context
The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to start planting seabuckthorn in the cold desert areas of the state this year, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur announced in his budget speech last week. We explain the ecological and medical benefits of this bush
2.What is seabuckthorn?
- It’s a shrub which produces an orange-yellow coloured edible berry. In India, it is found above the tree line in the Himalayan region, generally in dry areas such as the cold deserts of Ladakh and Spiti. In Himachal Pradesh, it is locally called chharma and grows in the wild in Lahaul and Spiti and parts of Kinnaur.
- According to the Seabuckthorn Association of India, around 15,000 hectares in Himachal, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are covered by this plant.
- Sea buckthorn is a type of shrub that produces small, orange berries. These berries are rich in nutrients, including vitamins (such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K), antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and other beneficial compounds.
- They've been used in traditional medicine for centuries, particularly in Asia and Europe, for various health purposes.
- Sea buckthorn oil extracted from the berries is particularly popular due to its potential health benefits, including supporting skin health, improving heart health, boosting the immune system, and aiding in digestion.
- The berries themselves can be consumed raw, although they are quite tart, so they're often used in juices, jams, sauces, and teas. The oil is also used in skincare products for its purported benefits for skin health and healing
3. Significance of Seabuckthorn
- Seabuckthorn, a traditional remedy, has been extensively utilized to address stomach, heart, and skin ailments. Recent global scientific studies have substantiated numerous conventional applications.
- Its berries and leaves contain a wealth of vitamins, carotenoids, omega fatty acids, and other beneficial compounds. Additionally, it aids in altitude adaptation, beneficial for troops.
- Apart from being a crucial source of fuelwood and animal feed, seabuckthorn serves as an erosion-preventing plant, curbing river siltation and preserving floral diversity.
- It serves as a robust substitute for willow trees, which are facing extensive pest-related demise, thereby safeguarding the local ecosystem.
- Furthermore, seabuckthorn holds commercial importance, finding use in the production of juices, jams, nutritional supplements, and similar products
4. Government Project
The seabuckthorn association wants the forest departments of various Himalayan states/UTs to plant seabuckthorn on arid and marginal lands using compensatory afforestation or CAMPA funds.
Recently, the union ministry of environment, forest and climate change asked these states to submit proposals for taking up such plantations, “especially in the light of reduced water flow from Himalayan glaciers and its impact on ecology”.
Source: indianexpress
