Nature and Science, 6(3), 2008, ISSN: 1545-0740, naturesciencej@gmail.com Dwindling of an endangered orchid Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D.Don) Soo: A case study from Tungnath Alpine meadows of Garhwal Himalaya, India Dinesh Giri*, Dhani Arya**, Sushma Tamta* and Lalit M. Tewari * Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand (India) ** Department of Botany, HNB Garhwal University, Shrinagar-Garhwal, Uttarakhand (India) Name of Author E-mail address Dinesh Giri : giri_gld@rediffmail.com Dhani Arya : dhaniarya@gmail.com Sushma Tamta : sushma_tamta@yahoo.com Lalit M. Tewari : l_tewari@rediffmail.com ABSTRACT: The Central Himalayan region has been rich in biological wealth and would become an uplift resource of socio-economic status of the Himalayan people. Presence of a varied number of medicinal plants indicates its significance. Due to various levels of disturbances, destruction of number of economically important plants in these alpine meadows is continued like declining of Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D.Don) Soo, in its natural population. Out of six study sites, only two sites showed its presence, which indicates its declining health from natural population. [Nature and Science. 2008;6(3):6-9]. ISSN: 1545-0740. Key words: Alpine meadows, study sites, natural population, density, orchid, grazing pressure INTRODUCTION The alpine region forms the uppermost catchments of the Himalayan Rivers which supports million of people in the lower hills as well as in plain of north India. Therefore health of the alpine ecosystem has direct bearing on the life-support system, environmental stability, biodiversity and human welfare in the region (Rawat, 2005). The various changes in the Himalayan forests are appearing in their structure, density and composition due to global warming, uncontrolled lopping and felling of trees for fuel wood, fodder and grazing (Gaur 1982, Bargali et al. 1998; Kumar et al. 2004). Changes in climate, exploitation of several plants for medicine and grazing pressure in alpine region of Garhwal Himalaya have led to drastic changes in vegetation composition and population of species during last few decades (Nautiyal et al. 2004). Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soo (Family Orchidaceae), a high value medicinal orchid, is reported to occur in temperate to alpine regions (2500-5000 m) in India, Pakistan and Nepal (Bhatt et al. 2005). Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soo, earlier known Orchis latifolia Hook (Vij et al. 1992). It is a terrestrial orchid and commonly it is known as Salampanja and Hatajari in Garhwal Himalaya. The tubers of this species, commonly sold as ‘Salampanja’ are known to yield a high quality ‘Salep’ which is extensively used in local medicine as nervine tonic for its astringent and aphrodisiac properties (Vij et al 1992). It has been categorized as critically endangered (Kala, 2000), rare (Samant et al 2001) and listed under appendix II of CITES (Uniyal et al 2002). This study aims to assess the quantum of availability of a therapeutically important orchid D. hatagirea (D.Don) Soo, in its natural habitats. MATERIAL AND METHODS Tungnath (30 0 30 ’ N _ 79 0 15 ' E and elevation 3300- 4200 m ) represent an alpine zone of the Garhwal Himalaya (Sundriyal, 1994). In this region our study area covers an elevation range of 3500 to 4000 m. The rocks around Tungnath alpine meadows are mainly mylonitized gneisses, augengneisses, schist, granite and highly folded having a north west – south west trend (Valdia 1980). The heavy snowfall, frost, drought, low