Palm oil derived from Elaeis guineensis, Elaeis oleifera and their hybrids represents about 40 percent of all the vegetable oils produced in the world,  preferred due to its higher yield compared to other oilseeds and lower price. Government of India has launched the National Mission on Edible Oils- Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), in 2021 which proposes to increase the area to 1 Mha and crude palm oil production to 1.12 Mt by 2026 and 2.8 Mt by 2029-30.  One of the potential areas identified is the Northeast India, and in this context this review examines the experiences of oil palm planting in the Northeast India, the present programmes and its socio-economic and ecological impacts, besides the consumption, supply and import of edible oils which have necessitated the oil palm expansion.

Orchidaceae is ecologically sensitive and morphologically diverse angiospermic family of the plant kingdom. The present study investigates the diversity and distribution patterns of endemic orchids of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). Total 115 endemic orchid taxa (114 species; 1 variety) were recorded from IHR. Endemic orchid richness was found maximum in Arunachal Pradesh (49), followed by Sikkim (26), and Meghalaya (21). Bulbophyllum (13) emerged as the most dominant genus followed by Dendrobium (11). Along the elevation gradient a monotonic decline was observed towards higher elevation and maximum (56%) endemic orchids were recorded from lower (100-1000 m asl) elevations, however only 5% species were recorded above 3500m asl. Total 20 species have been listed under IUCN threat categories viz., Critically Endangered (16), and Endangered (4). Overall, the population  of threatened orchids is decreasing and recorded stable for only one species. Shifting agriculture, unscientific collection, cutting of host trees and road construction/widening are among the major threats recorded for Himalayan orchids. The study recommends in-situ and ex-situ conservation of these species along with intensive field explorations to identify more habitats/populations of endemic orchids across IHR.

The ethnic community in Pali, Umaria has a tradition of using multiple plant species for treating various diseases. Besides their role in folk medicine, certain plant species also have significant economic and cultural value for indigenous people in different regions. A total of 42 ethnomedicinal plant species, belonging to 38 genera and 31 families, were documented for treating 30 different ailments. The most frequently used plant species was Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f. and Thoms., with 144 use reports (URs) and a Use Value (UV) of 2.441. The quantitative analysis revealed intricate relationships among variables: Use Value (UVs), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Relative Importance (RIs), Number of Uses (NUs), and Use Reports (URs). The ICF (Informant consensus factor) values ranged from 0.88 to 1. Notably, psychiatric conditions and cardiovascular problems exhibited the highest consensus, with ICF scores of 1 and 0.98. The findings indicate that the traditional medicinal plant treatment is still prevalent in the research area. The Baiga and Gond communities are the primary practitioners of traditional knowledge. It is crucial to promptly implement conservation measures using quantitative tools to safeguard biodiversity, cultural heritage, and community well-being.

Women of tribal communities and rural areas are hesitant to freely discuss their reproductive health issues. The lack of awareness and access to basic medical care make them more prone to gynaecological disorders and traditional medicine is their sole source of treatment. Aim of this work is to identify and document the herbs which are used by ethnic women to cure gynaecological disorders in the Nurpur valley of district Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, India. Semi-structured questionnaires were employed to gather ethnogynaecological data. Quantitative analysis of collected data was done through Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL%), and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). A total of 25 medicinal plants from 24 genera and 18 families are being used for the treatment of different gynaecological problems. Maximum number of medicinal plants were recorded in Fabaceae and Asteraceae families. Hence, the recorded plant data would act as a foundational reference for subsequent advanced investigations on nutraceutical and pharmaceutical agents against gynaecological problems.

The present paper reports the ethnomedicinal plants traditionally used by the tribal and rural communities in 11 districts of Bihar. A total of 45 ethnomedicinal plant species belonging to 25 families and 43 genera were reported to be used in the treatments of various skin ailments. These first hand ethnomedicinal informations were collected directly from the field survey in tribal populated rural areas of the districts including villages and their adjacent forests. During the survey, interaction was done with several tribal groups as well as other non-tribal people of the areas to collect the information.

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out to document traditional knowledge of tree usage among the Malayali tribes through interviews and various data collection methods. The present ethnobotanical exploration revealed that the Malayali tribal people of the Chitteri hills use around 166 species of trees belonging to 118 genera under 49 families for their day today needs.Their uses have been mentioned in the attached table (Table 1).

For centuries, the ethnobotanical knowledge of ethnic communities has been a vital source of sustenance and healing, deeply embedded in their cultural practices. Wild edible plants serve as a lifeline in times of scarcity, providing essential nutrients and medicinal properties that have sustained these communities throughout the ages. Present study was conducted in the Lohit and Namsai districts of Arunachal Pradesh to document the wild edible plants utilized by the ethnic communities of the study area.

Asplenium tenerum G. Forst, was recently collected during a survey conducted in Central Western Ghats of Karnataka. It is characterized by its finely serrated frond margins, the apex of the frond and the veins do not reach the margin of the frond, providing a further distinguishing feature. A detailed description, photographic images, and distribution map enrich understanding of Asplenium tenerum and its presence in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve (BRT), Karnataka.

The diversity of insect pollinators and their frequent flower-visiting can improve the yield of pollination-dependent horticulture crops. To estimate the diversity and flower-visiting frequency of insect visitors, including pollinators associated with Malta (Citrus sinensis) was conducted in Kumaun, Western Himalaya, India. The scan sampling method opted for availability (diversity and frequency) assessment of insect visitors and transect walks for assessing foraging resources across Malta orchards. A total of 32 species of insect flower visitors associated with the Malta blooms were recorded belonging to the different insect groups during the study period. Among the observed flower visitors, the Indian honeybee (Apis cerana) was the most frequent visitor followed by Bumble bee (Bombus haemorrhoidalis), Carpenter bee (Xylocopa fenestrata), Butterflies (Pieris brassicae), Drone flies (Eristalis tenax, E. arvorum), and Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus). During the study, 54 species of potential bee flora (pollen and nectar) useful for forage and nesting of honey bees, solitary bees, and other associated insects were identified in and around the sampling site. Management of bee flora around the Malta orchards during the bloom is recommended for maintaining pollinator diversity and improving pollination services.

The present study was taken up with an aim to study the diversity of erebid moth fauna from Nandurbar District, Maharashtra. The moths were collected between June 2019 to January 2022. The study resulted in collection and identification of 55 species of 46 genera belonging to 10 subfamilies. Among these, the subfamily, Erebinae (20 species), had the most species diversity followed by Arctiinae (13), Lymantriinae (8), Aganainae (4), Calpinae (4), Hypocalinae (02), Eulepidotinae (01), Pangratinae (1), Scoliopteryginae (01) and Tinoliinae (01).

Kuno-Palpur National Park, nestled in the Vindhyan Hills of Central India, is often regarded as a jewel of the region. Situated at the core of the Kuno Wildlife Division in Sheopur district, it forms an integral part of the Central Indian Vindhyan landscape. Renowned for its rich biodiversity and distinctive ecosystem, the park has remained largely unexplored in terms of its odonate fauna (dragonflies and damselflies). To address this gap, a comprehensive survey was carried out across multiple locations within the park to investigate and document the diversity of odonates during September 2022 to January 2024. A total of 37 species of odonates, representing 24 genera across 6 families and 2 suborders—Anisoptera and Zygoptera—were recorded from Kuno-Palpur National Park in Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh. These findings highlight the park's significant value for the conservation of Odonata and further research into their biology.

A review on ethnobotanical studies on trees of Southern Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu hills revealed that the Malayali tribal people use a total of 226 tree species belonging to 151 genera of 54 families for their day to day needs. Malayali tribals utilise 90 tree species as medicine, 68 as wild edibles, 49 as firewood, 24 for house construction, 22 for making agricultural implements, 25 as fodder, 18 for spiritual purposes and 5 as dye yielding plants. The status of enumerated 226 trees in Chitteri hills was categorized based on IUCN criteria, 108 are Data Deficient, 95 Least Concerned, 5 Near Threatened, 12 Vulnerable, 5 Endangered and 1 Critically Endangered. 20 Exotic trees were recorded from Tamil Nadu's Eastern Ghats.

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) play a crucial role in supporting the livelihoods of millions, particularly in rural and forested areas. These biological resources, excluding timber, encompass items such as food, fodder, fiber, medicinal plants, and materials for household and agricultural use. NTFPs contribute significantly to both subsistence and income, aiding in rural development and poverty reduction. In states like Chhattisgarh, they are closely linked to the cultural traditions and economic well-being of tribal and forest-dependent populations, while also serving as key ingredients in industrial and medicinal products. This paper explores the significance of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Chhattisgarh and analyzes the initiatives directed toward fostering sustainable livelihoods for rural populations.

Sarnath, a revered Buddhist site in Varanasi where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon, is rich in floral diversity. A detailed survey of the Sarnath campus identified 106 trees,  43 shrubs, 11 palms and 3 bamboo species, including indigenous, invasive, and vulnerable types, many of which hold mythological, ethical, and aesthetic significance. As a well-maintained heritage site under government protection, Sarnath offers both spiritual and ecological value. Given its rich plant diversity, it is recommended that the campus be recognized as an Urban Sacred Grove, honoring its botanical wealth and spiritual legacy.

This paper documents the use of 32 plant species, spanning 24 different families, by the indigenous tribes of Khammam district, Telangana (erstwhile Andhra Pradesh) in India, for the treatment of bronchitis. The findings include first-time reports of Callistemon citrinus, Lactuca runcinata, and 14 previously undocumented healing practices.