J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2014 333 | Khan et al. RESEARCH PAPER OPEN ACCESS Evaluation of human induced threats on berberis populations across cultural landscape of karakorum mountain ranges Tika Khan 1* , Imtiaz Ahmed Khan 2 , Abdul Rehman 2 , Rehmat Karaim 1 , Rukhsana 3 , Shamsher Ali 1 1 Integrated Mountain Area Research Centre, Karakoram International University, Pakistan 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Karakoram International University, Pakistan 3 Public Schools and Colleges, Jutial-Gilgit, Pakistan Article published on October 21, 2014 Key words: Berberis, Anthropogenic pressure, Natural resources, Medicinal Plants, Ethnobotany, Karakoram, Critically endangered. Abstract Growing human and livestock population have negatively influenced Berberis populations across traditional landscape of Karakoram Mountain Ranges. Current study evaluates human induced pressures and threats on Berberis. One of a subspecies, B. pseudumbellata subsp. gilgitica has become critically endangered in the area. Moreover, .cultural changes underway have radically deteriorated ethnobotanical knowledge. Using a stratified random sampling tools and techniques, 373 people were interviewed. 92.2% (SE±0.057) people use Berberis for medicinal purpose. Similarly, 19.3% (SE±37.375) for firewood, 2.41% (SE±1.692) commercial, 2.41% cultural, 16.08% fodder (SE±11.474), 19.03% fencing (SE±6.895) and 100% grazing (SE±1.035). Every year a total of 19.428 metric tons (MT) of Berberis is used for medicinal, firewood, commercial, fodder and fences purposes. Descriptive and inferential techniques were employed to analyze data. According to 27.3% (n=102) people, Berberis population has declined and unplanned rampant developmental process (n=32, -30.77%) has a strongest negative effect followed by over grazing (n=23, -22.12%). * Corresponding Author: Tika Khan  tika.khan@kiu.edu.pk Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) ISSN: 2220-6663 (Print) 2222-3045 (Online) Vol. 5, No. 4, p. 333-342, 2014 http://www.innspub.net