Habitat distribution modelling for improving conservation status of Brucea mollis Wall. ex Kurz.-An endangered potential medicinal plant of Northeast India

Brucea mollis Wall. ex Kurz. has long been used in traditional medicines by indigenous people in North-East India. The population stock of the species has been depleting very fast in its natural habitat due to over-exploitation and habitat fragmentation and has become endangered. The current conservation status of B. mollis is endangered category and therefore, conservation of this potential medicinal plant with proper scientific investigation to prevent extinction in its wild habitat is urgently needed. The present study has the specific objectives to study the distribution, standardization of suitable macropropagation methods and reinforcement into the suitable wild habitat. B. mollis is found in few locations of Karbi Anglong District of Assam, India. The mean density, frequency of occurrence and abundance was estimated as17.77, 14.44 and 7.46 respectively. For improving the conservation status, potential area and habitat for reintroduction was predicted using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) distribution modelling algorithm. Subsequently, macropropagation protocol was standardized; saplings were raised and introduced to the wild habitats selected based on habitat distribution modelling. A total of 1000 saplings of B. mollis were reintroduced to the field and the rate of survivability was measured over a period of 12 months at an interval of 120 days that revealed 80% survivability. This study has proved as an effective method for improving the conservation status of the plant.