During the last few decades, human-driven activities have led to indiscriminate habitat destruction and exploitation of many plant species in Kashmir Himalaya. As a result, many species have become threatened and are struggling for survival. Of particular concern are the endemic and critically endangered species which have the highest risk of the extinction, hence warranting immediate conservation actions. Therefore the current study was carried out to understand the distribution, ecology and conservation implications of the four critically endangered endemic plants of Kashmir Himalaya. Habitat distribution modelling showed that the suitable potential areas for the species occurred from subalpine to alpine meadowlands with an elevational range of 1500–4600 m asl. The output of the MaxEnt model and field surveys have revealed that their highest potential distribution is in Panchari, Khrew, Ramnagar, Pahalgam, Gurez, Sonamarg, Gulmarg and Kishtwar forest ranges. Based on the field explorations and herbarium records, Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch have 27 distribution areas, Gentiana kurroo Royle 18, Lilium polyphyllum D. Don 12 and Aconitum chasmanthum Stapf have 15. Precipitation of the driest month and annual mean temperature played an important role in the distribution of the studied species. The species started their lifecycle with the onset of the spring season, flowered in summer, fruit in autumn and senesce in the winter season. Under natural conditions, the number of days required for germination ranged from 180 to 210 where cold stratification played a pivotal role. Since last few decades, the populations of these species have been shrinking in their natural habitats due to over-exploitation for medicinal purposes and habitat destruction through amplified humanoid interferences like the expansion of agricultural land, road building, grazing and urbanization. Thus there is an urgent need to come up with positive strategies to save whatever is left and plan long term rescue measures not only to protect these species from extinction but also to reintroduce them along with framing the plans to supply sustained raw materials for medicine.

在过去的几十年里，人类活动导致克什米尔喜马拉雅地区的栖息地遭到肆意破坏和许多植物物种的开发。结果，许多物种受到威胁并为生存而挣扎。特别值得关注的是特有物种和极度濒危物种，它们灭绝的风险最高，因此需要立即采取保护行动。因此，本研究旨在了解克什米尔喜马拉雅山四种极度濒危特有植物的分布、生态和保护意义。栖息地分布模型表明，该物种的适宜潜在区域发生在海拔1500-4600米的亚高山到高山草甸地区。 MaxEnt 模型的输出和实地调查显示，它们的最高潜在分布是在 Panchari、Khrew、Ramnagar、Pahalgam、Gurez、Sonamarg、Gulmarg 和 Kishtwar 森林范围。根据野外考察和植物标本馆记录，雪莲有27个分布区，龙胆18个，百合D.Don 12个，乌头乌头15个。最干燥月降水量和年平均气温对对所研究物种的分布具有重要作用。该物种的生命周期从春季开始，夏季开花，秋季结果，冬季衰老。自然条件下，发芽所需天数为180～210天，其中冷层积发挥了关键作用。 过去几十年来，由于出于药用目的的过度开发以及农田扩张、道路建设、放牧和城市化等人形干扰的扩大，栖息地遭到破坏，这些物种的自然栖息地数量不断减少。因此，迫切需要制定积极的策略来拯救剩下的物种，并规划长期的拯救措施，不仅要保护这些物种免遭灭绝，还要重新引入它们，同时制定持续供应医药原料的计划。