International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ___________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202Vol. 3(1), 89-94, January (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 89 A Case Study on People’s Choice Conservation of Biodiversity in Homesteads of Assam, IndiaProsanta Hazarika, Biswas S.C. and Kalita R.K., Bio-Prospecting and Indigenous Knowledge Division, Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat-785001 Assam, INDIAAvailable online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 3rd September 2013, revised 22nd October 2013, accepted 17th November 2013Abstract Choice of useful plant species from forests for domestication has been found to start simultaneously with the progress of human civilization since the beginning of cultivation and used to conserve them in particular piece of land near to their habitat. Those habitats may be the outcome of today’s homesteads. Now, homesteads are considered as important sites for ex-situ on-farm conservation. Homesteads are also considered, as need base multi-purpose high-density, multi-layered agroforestry cropping systems, which not only mitigate the local needs but also take major part in conservation of biodiversity. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the role of the homestead in the conservation and management of plant diversity of forests origin in nine selected villages of Jorhat, Sivasagar and Golaghat districts of Assam, India during 2005-2007. More than 393 plant species of 111 families are recorded in the homesteads, which are categorized as timber and non-timber species. Non-timber species are again grouped as food (i.e., fruits, roots stem, leaves and vegetables), fodder, medicinal, spices, aromatic and essential oil, fibers, dyes, beverage and pesticides yielding species. The study implies that several fruit plant species including Areca nut, Banana (Musa spp.), Mango (Mangifera indica), Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophylla,), Citrus spp, Lateku (Baccuaria sapida), Poniol (Flacaurtia catapharacta), Garcinia spp, Syzygium spp etc and Bamboo spp, Cane spp, and Livingstonia jenkinsiana are major components of homestead agroforestry system. In addition, some of the plant species are found to link with the cultural heritage of the local people. Tea, Aquilaria, Bamboo, Canes and Livingstonia species are recorded as commercially important plant species in their homesteads. Many rare and endangered plant species including orchids are well nourished in homesteads of the locality. Keywords: Biodiversity, conservation, homestead and plant diversity. IntroductionIt is mentioned from the past evidience that domestication of plant species starts after just the end of nomadic lives and begining of setteled lives alomst 12,000 years ago. Since then pople statered domestication of useful plants species in a new area as they ocupy to live in. This begins cultivation and gerdaning in the homestead. Now people have their homesteads with varieties of useful plant species such as food and fodder, fruit and vegetables, medicinal, aromatic, spices and condimant, begerages and drinks to mitigate local needs and even plant species of commrcial important such as tea, coffee, rubber, bamboo and rattan, ornamental and asthetic plants etc. Due to increasing trend of population exerts pressure on natural forests stands of thier surroundings for exploreation and utilisation of resoures as a reults bioresources and biodiversity begin to culminate day by day. Now, many naturalist advocate to take proper action to reduce and control activities of people on natural forests and to promote and conserve biodiversity1,2. On the other hand, people have their natural tendency to incorporate useful and new plant species in their homesteads. Therefore, a huge amount of biodiversity have been mentained in homesteads that are socio-cultural and economically important to human civilization. However, with time people are loosing the interest of domestication of plant resources due to shrinkage of land area for residential and indrustrial development of the increasing populations. Assam is situated under Indo-burma megadiversity hotspot. Therfore, the homesteads of the state are also habitat of a large number of plant diversity. In this paper authors attempt for documantation of the existing plant species in the homesteads of nine villages of Jorhat, Golaghat and Sivasagar districts of Assam and categorized them on the basis of their utilizations by the people and access the traditional contribution of the villagers in the conservation and management of plant diversity with a view for future scientific planing on conservation of biodiversity, better management, value addition the homesteads boiresources. Matarial and Methods The study was conducted during 2005- 2007 in nine villages viz. Veleuguri Adarsha Goan, Marioni, Jorhat; Koliapani Adarsha Gaon, Teok, Jorhat; Meleng Hudamua Gaon, Jorhat; Sotai Bhokat Gaon, Jorhat; Borbam Goan, Amguri, Sivasagar; Dhonekhowa Gaon, Gaurisagar, Sivasagar; Halluwa Gaon, Dhekial, Golaghat; Alengmora Gaon, Jorhat and Meleng Puroni Gaon, Jorhat of Assam, India. The study areas of these three districts are located in between 21º30// N to 27º15// N latitude and 93º45//E to 95º25// E Longitude. The temperature varies between 9°C to 39°C. The district receives rainfall on an International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 3(1), 89-94, January (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 90 average at 2244 mm with northwest monsoon contributing a major share. Forty homesteads from each of the nine villages of 0.3-1 acre or more area totaling 450 homesteads are selected randomly for the study. The survey was carried out following method as described by Jain. The Vertical and horizontal distribution of plant species were recorded and identified with the help of regional and local floras. Questionnaires and other interviews were also used to gather data. Information on plant species utilization aspects is collected through interview. Plant species recorded in the homesteads were categorized as per their traditional use such as timber and non-timber species. Non-timber species were again grouped as food (i.e, fruits, roots stem, leaves and vegetables), fodder, medicinal, spices, aromatic and essential oil, fibres, dyes, beverage and pesticides yielding species etc. Results and Discussion Altogether, 393 plant species were recorded belonging to 111 family (table-1). Of which, Fabaceae is found to be largest family with 39 plant species. Among other largest families Euphorbiaceae has 17 plant species, Asterace wih 15 plant species, Rutaceae and Cucurbitaceae both have 14 species each and Rubiaceae with 11 species; Lauraceae and Moraceae with 10 species each and Verbaneceae and Zingiberaceae each with 9 plant species distributed in the homesteads. Vertical distribution of plant species in different canopy is shown in table-2. Accordingly, six distinctive types of homesteads are categorized on the basis on vertical distribution of plant species in three different canopy formations (table-2). Horizontal distribution of plant species in homesteads were categorized as boundary plantation, courtyard plantation, vegetable garden /Kitchen garden species and Pond vegetation etc. Categorizations of plant species according to their utilization are described below. Timber wood species: Dalbergia sisoo, Michelia champaca, Albizzia lebbeck, Lagerstroemia perviflora, Depterocarpus retuses, Albizzia procera, Albizzia odoratissima, Tectona grandis, Tetrameles nudiflora, Gmelina arborea, Pterospermum lanceaefolium, Dysoxylum procerum, Mesua ferrea, Artocarpus chaplasha, Bombax ceiba, Anthrocepalus chinensis, Adina cordifolia and Mansonia dipikae were recorded from the homesteads were traditionally used as timber by the villagers. Non Timber plant species: Fuel wood species:Major fuel wood species recorded in the homesteadswere Dysoxylum binecteriferum, Melia azadarach, Albizzia lucidaTamarix dioica, Delonex resia, Albizzia procera, Actinodephnae angustifolia, Schima wallichii, Macaranga denticulata and Mallotus sp. etc. Human Food: Fruits: More than 60 plants species were recorded under this category, some of them were major fruits and other were minor i.e. Artocarpus heterophylla Annoa squamosa, Anonas comosus, Aegle marmelos, Artocarpus lekoocha, Averrhoa billimbii, Baccuaria sapida Emblica officinalis, Flacaurtia jangomas Syn. Flacaurtia cataphacta,Litchi sinensis, Purnus persica Purnus domestica, Elaegnus latifolia, Mangifera indica Musa paradisiaca, Musa acuminata, Syzygium cersoides,Syzygium malaccasis Syzygium jambolina, Citrus maxima, Citrus aurantium, Pisidum guyava Punica granatum, Ziziphus mauritiana, Artocarpus chaplasha, Rhus semialata, Garcinia lanceaefolia, Garcinia sp, Garcinia cowa, Garcinia pendanculata, Mengifera sylvatica, Terminalia cebula, Elaeocarpus sp, Olea europa, , Dilenia indica, Morus alba, Spondius mengifera, Garcinia xanthocymus, Pyrenaria barringtoniaefolia, Borassus flabellifer, Areca catechu, Phoenix sysvestris, Caryota urens, Averrhoa carambola, Averrhoa sp, Treminalia belerica, Mimosops elengi, Randia sp, Talauma hodgsonii, Prunus jenkinsii, Roydsia suavcolens, Melastoma spp, Tamarindus indica, Passiflora edulis Moringa oleifera Carrica carandasCarissa billimbi, Garcinia oxyphylla, Carallia-lucida, Carallia integerrrima, Cephalandra indica andRubus hexagynous etc. Roots and Stems: Village people use to take as food in raw or cooked form of the juvenile shoots of Bambusa Balcooa, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii and Macocana bacifera,Musa spand Calamus spp rhizome of Zingiber cassumunar, tubers of Dioscoria bulbifera Dioscoria alata, Dioscoria esculenta, Dioscoria trifida, roots of Manihot esculenta,u Ipomea batatas, corm of Colocasia antiquorum, Amorphophallus campanulatus, Colocasia esculanta etc. Leaves: Fresh leaves of the plant species such as Piper betel, Piper longrum, Eryngirum foetidum, Muraya koenigii, Baringtonia sp; juvenile stem tips of Ipomea aquatica, tendered leaves/ plant parts of Azadirachta indica, Paederia foetida, Pteris critica, Perilla ocimoides, Cinnamomum tamala and Clerodendrum coleobrookianum were found to take as food. Some of them they take in raw, others they boiled or cooked to eat. Cultivation Thea chinensis (Tea) was recorded as new component in homesteads for tea leaves trading. Edible seeds: Seeds of Artocarpus heterophylla, Caesalpinia crista, Calamus, Caryota urens, Areca catechu, Areca negensis, Pinanga, Livingstonia jenkinsiana, Nymphea nauchali Phaseolus lunatus and Dolichos biflorus etc. were recorded as edible seeds by the village communities. Edible flowers: Sesbania grandiflora, Nyctanthes arboristisand Cieba pentagyna etc were recorded as edible flowers collected from the homesteads. Fodder: More than 23 plant species were recorded as fodder species from the homesteads. Albizza procera, Bauhinia purpurea, Bambusa spp, Dalbergia sisoo, Artocarpus heterophylla, Ficus indica, Artocarpus lacoocha, Mengifera indica, Atrocarpus chaplacha, Ficus religiosa, Morus alba, Terminalia chebula, Malotus sp, Mikania micrantha, Pongamia pinnata, Ficus indica, Musa spp, Eichhornia crassipes, International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 3(1), 89-94, January (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 91 Lagerstreomia speciosa, Zyzyphus jujuba, Syzygium cumini, S. armontam were traditionally used as major fooder species recorded from the homesteads studied. Among the fodder grasses found in homesteads were Saccharum spontaneum, S. munja, Impareta cylindrica, Paspalum conjugatum, Desmostachya bipinnata, Typha elephantine, T. angusta, Cynodon dectylon and Clinogyne dichotoma etc. Bamboo: Bamboospecies are the major component of the homesteads of Assam. Bamboo species recorded in the studied homesteads were Bombusa valgaris, Bambusa balcooa, Bambusa tulda, Bambusa nutans, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Schzostachyum dullooa and Melocana bacifera. Rattan species: Four rattan species were recoreded in homesteads of different study area i.e. Calamus tenuis Calamus gracilis Calamus floribundus and C. leptospadix. Gums and Resins: Traditionally gum were found to collect by the villagers from Bauhinia purpurea, Albizzia lebbeck, Butea monosperma etc. Resins also extracted from the plant species found in the homesteads are Boswellia serrata and Canariumresiniferum etc. Oil seeds: Seeds of Mesua ferea, Terminalia belerica, Pongamia glabra, Cocos nucifera and Recinus communis etc were recorded to use for burning in raw or extracting oil and used as substitute of kerosin. Aromatic and Essential oil: Homesteads of the study area found to occur few aromatic and essential oil yielding plant species such as Eucalyptus spp, Aquilaria agalocha, Galophyllum inophyllum, Sesamum indicum, Gnetum genon, Cymbopogon winterianus, C. nardus, Cymbopogon martini, Michelia champaca, Cinnamomum camphora etc. Fibre Plants: Homesteads of the study area sheltered the fibre yielding plant species such as Trema orientalis, Sterculia villosa, Sarcochlamys pulcherima, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Urena lobata, Bombax cieba, Tyhpa angustifolia, Alpinia spp, Boehmeria nevia and Cocos nucifera etc. NaturalDyes: Natural dyes were traditionally extracted from the fruits of Bixa orellana, Butea parviflora and barks of Trema orientalis; roots of Morinda angustifolia and Buatea monosperma. These natural dyes were recorded for use by the indigenous people in dying fibres, clothes and other items. Spices Plants Cinnamomum tamala, Cinnamomum zeylenicum, Cinnamomum pauciflorum, C. camphora, Zingiber officinalis, Piper nigrum and curcuma longa were recorded as traditional spices for village people. Medicinal plants: Plant species of medicinal important are recorded in homesteads of the study area were Acorus calamusCrataeva religiosa, Hydnocarpas kurgii, Putranjiva roxburghii, Galophyllum inophyllum, Rauwolfia serpentina, Saraca indica, Withania somnifera, Halarrhena antidysenterica, Aquilaria malaccensis, Emblica officinalis, Terminalia cebula, Terminalia belerica, Spondius pinnata, Zingiber officinalis, Curcuma longra, Costus speciosa, Acacia farnesiana, Cinnamomum camphora, Phoenix montana, Aurthum graveyolens, Abroma angustha, Gmelina arborea, Swertia chirata, Andographis peniculata, Moringa olifera, Hibiscus rosasinensis, Jatropha curcas, Syzygium spp, Piper nigrum, Punica granatum, Ocimum basilicum, Tamarindus indica, Borassus flabellifer, Cinnamomum tamala, Datura metal, Terminalia arjuna, Clerodendrum coleobrookianum, Murrya koenigii, Homonoia riparia, Nymphea lotus, Piper betel, Butea monosperma, Piper longrum, Mimosps elengi, Adhatoda zeylanica, Glycorrhiza glabra, Saraca indica Solanum khasianum, Euphorbia nerifolia, Cassia fistula, Paederia foetida, Centella asiatica, Perilla ocimoides, Azadirachta indica, Hautonia cordata, Hiptage madablota, Sapindus detergens Tinospora cordifolia, Alocacia indica, Hodgsonia macrocarpa, Achrasma loroglossum, Costus speciosus, Alpinia allughas, Magnolia phenocarpa, Zanthoxylum hamiltonianum, Zanthoxylum oxyphyllum, Zanthoxylum budrunga, Zanthoxylum rhetsa, Glycomis pentaphyla, Euphorbia nerifolia, Cissampelos pareireJussia repens, Euryale ferox, Cinnamimum verum, Cinnamomum pauciflorum, Vitex negundo, Diospyros embryopteris, Drymeria cordata, Eclipta alba Stellaria medica, Aschasma lorglossum Alternenthera sessilis Bacopa monieri, Hydrocotyle rotundifolia Protulaca olerecea and Leucus linifolia etc. These plant species were recorded for traditional use as medicine for treatment and cure of various ailments of both human and animals of their localities. Pesticides from plants: More than hundred plant species of the homesteads are mentioned to have insecticidal and pesticidal properties. Some of them were recorded from the homesteads of the study area and said traditional botanical resources were bark of Milletia pachycarpa, tendered plant of Parthenium sp, Eupatorium odoratum, Ageratum conyzoides; A. haustonianum, fruit of Citrus maxima, leaves and seed kernel oil of Melia azadarach and Azedirachta India etc. Others: Aesthetic and Ornamental Plants: Homesteads were found to landscape for beautification by the owners with many aesthetic and ornamental plant species. Some of such important plant species recorded in different homesteads surveyed were Delonix regia, Bauhinia variegate, Averrhoa carambola, Azadirachta indica, Caesalpinia pulcherima, Butea monosperma, Calamus viminalis, Crataeva nurvala / religiosa, Mimosops elengi, Borassus flabellifer, Livinstonia jenkinsiana, Polyalthia longifolia, Eucalyptus spp, Acacia auriculiformis, Pongamia glabra, Phoenix sysvestris, Areca catechu, Tamarindus indica, Gravellia robusta, Cocos nucifera, Boehmeria nivea, Ficus benghalensis, Tregets erectaChrysanthemum morifolium, Dahlia variabillis , Gladiolus grandifolia, Calendula officinalis, Petunia hybrida, Phlox International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 3(1), 89-94, January (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 92 drummondii, Althaea rosea, Bougainvillia spp, Polyanthes tuberosa, Zinnia elegans and , Impatiens balsamin etc. Endemic, Rare and endangered Plants:Aquilaria malaccensis, Baccaurea sapida, Flacourtia cataphracta syn.Flacourtia jangomas, Rhus semialata, Bursera serreta, Olea europa, Prunus jenkinsii, Talauma hodgsonii, Rubus hexagynous, Cephalandra indica, Carallia integerrrima, Garcinia cowa, Garcinia oxyphylla, Carallia-lucida, Garcinia xanthocymus, Carissa carandas, Carissa billimbi, Mengifera sylvatica are rare/ endangered plant species. Gnetum gnemonand Gnetum ula are endemic plant species of the region which were recorded from in the homesteads with very scantly distribution. Table-1 Name of the families with number of plant species recorded from the homesteads Family name Species no. Family name Species no. Family name Species no. Acanthaceae 6 Cyperaceae 3 Phyllanthaceae 1 Acoraceae 1 Dilleniaceae 1 Piperaceae 7 Amaranthaceae 6 Dioscoreaceae 6 Plumbaginceae 1 Amaryllidaceae 1 Dipterocarpaceae 2 Poaceae 6 Anacardiaceae 2 Ebenaceae 1 Polemoniaceae 1 Andropogoneae 1 Elaeocarpaceae 1 Polygonaceae 2 Annonaceae 2 Euphobiaceae 17 Polypodiaceae 3 Apiaceae 4 Fabaceae 39 Portulaceae 2 Apocyanaceae 4 Fagaceae 1 Ranunculaceae 1 Aquifoliaceae 1 Flacourtiaceae 1 Rhamnaceae 2 Araceae 5 Gnetaceae 1 Rhizophoraceae 2 Araliace 1 Guttiferae 5 Rosaceae 5 Araucariaceae 1 Hypoxidaceae 1 Rubiaceae 11 Arecaceae 2 Iridaceae 1 Rutaceae 14 Aristolochiaceae 2 Lamiaceae 8 Salicaceae 1 Asclepediaceae 2 Lauraceae 10 Sapindaceae 2 Astereceae 15 Liliaceae 6 Sapotaceae 2 Anthericaceae 1 Loranthaceae 1 Saururaceae 1 Athyriaceae 1 Lythraceae 2 Schisandraceae 1 Balsaminaceae 1 Magnoliaceae 3 Scrophulariaceae 5  4 Malvaceae 8 Simaroubaceae 1 Barringtoniaceae 1 Mansoniaceae 1 Solanaceae 6 Basellaceae 1 Marantaceae 1 Sterculiaceae 3 Begoniaceae 2 Marseliaceae 1 Theaceae 2 Bombacaceae 1 Melastomaceae 1 Thelypteridaceae. 1 Bromeliaceae 1 Meliaceae 3 Thymelaeaceae 1 Buddleiaceae 1 Menispermaceae 2 Tiliaceae 2 Burseraceae 1 Molluginaceae 1 Ulmaceae 1 Caesalpinaceae 11 Moraceae 10 Urticaceae 4 Cannabinaceae 1 Moringaceae 1 Verbaneceae 9 Cannaceae 1 Musaceace 4 Vitaceae 2 Capparidaceae 1 Myrtaceae 7 Woodsiaceae 1 Caricaceae 1 Nyctagicaceae 2 Zingiberaceae 9 Caryophyllaceae 2 Oleaceae 1 Chenopodiaceae 3 Orchidaceae 2 Combretaceae 3 Oxalidaceae 3 Commelinaceae 1 Pandanaceae 2 Convolvulaceae 4 Papaveraceae 1 Crassulacae 1 Papilionaceae 3 Cupressaceae 1 Passifloraceae 1 Curcurbitaceae 14 Pedaliaceae 1 International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 3(1), 89-94, January (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 93 Table-2 Vertical distribution of plant species of homesteads Type of Homesteads Distribution of plant species in canopy Over story Middle story Lower story Type-I Albizzia lebbeck, Albizzia procera, Lagerstroemia perviflora, Dalbergia sisoo, Anthrocepalus chinensis Megifera indica and Bombax ceiba, Areca catechu and Bamboo spp. etc.Aegle marmelos, Syzygium malaccasis, Averrhoa billimbii, Litchi sinensis, Morus alba, Baccuaria sapida, Pisidum guyava, Musa spp., Glycomis pentaphyla and Vitex negundo etcCitrus spp. Anonas comosus, curcuma longra, Zingiber officinalis Impareta cylindrica, Paspalum conjugatum, Colocasia spp. Type-II Bambusa balcooa, Bambusa nutans, Bambusa tulda, B. pollida, Tectona grandis, Gmelina arborea, Artocarpaus hetrophylla, Areca catechu Caryota urens,etc.Garcinia sp p, Cinnamomum tamala, Musa spp., Cinnamomum zeylenicum Pisidum guyava and Musa spp. Purnus persica Purnus domestica, Carallia-lucida, & Carica papaya etcCostus speciosa, Anonas comosus, Citrus spp Sesamum indicum, Gnetum genon Clerodendrum coleobrookianum, Colocasia spp. Type-III Depterocarpus retuses, Schima wallichii, Adina cordifolia, Mesua ferrea, Pterospermum, lanceaefolium, Bamboo spp. rtocarpus chaplasha, Spondius mengifera, Syzygium spp. Michelia champaca, Litsea spp. etcAquilaria agallocha, Carallia spp., Citrus spp.rcinia spp. Rhus semialata,, Musa sp, Carica papaya,Pteris critica, Perilla ocimoides, Ipomea batatas Paederia foetida, Citrus spp.Anonas comosus, curcuma longra, Zingiber officinalis Type IV Bamboo spp., Areca catechuActinodephnae angustifolia, Dysoxylum binecteriferum, Mallotus sp., Syzygium spp., Saraca indica, Crataeva religiosa, Terminalia belerica, Livinstonia jenkinsiana, Cocos nucifera, Artocarpus heterophylla, Carallia-lucida,Syzygium spp., Calamus sppMusa sp, Citrus spp., Averrhoa carambola, Carica papaya, Caryota urens Sesbania grandiflora, Nyctanthes arboristis, Cinnamomum tamala, Colocasia antiquorum, Ipomea batatas, Muraya koenigii, Pteris critica, Perilla ocimoides, Clerodendrum spp, Bacopa monieri, Hydrocotyle rotundifolia Protulaca olerecea and Leucus linifolia Type V Bamboo spp., Areca catechu Megifera indica, Baccuaria sapida, Emblica officinalis, Artocarpus heterophylla,, Azadiracta indica, C C a a s s s s i i a a n n o o d d o o s s a a , , Pterospermum lanceaefolium, Dysoxylum procerum, Schima wallichii Elaeocarpus sp, A A q q u u i i l l a a r r i i a a a a g g a a l l o o c c h h a a , , C C a a s s s s i i a a s s e e a a m m e e a a , , P P i i p p e e r r b b e e t t e e l l , , P P i i p p e e r r l l o o n n g g r r a a m Thea assamica, Anonas comosus Musa spp., Citrus spp., Garcinia spp Manihot esculenta,uNyctanthes arboristis, Cinnamomum spp., Pisidum guyava Glycomis pentaphyla Z Z i i n n g g i i b b e e r r e e r r o o f f f f i i c c i i n n a a l l i i s s , , C C u u r r c c u u m m a a l l o o n n g g r r a a , , L L y y c c o o p p e e r r s s i i c c u u m m s s p p p p . . , Colocasia , Pteris critica, Perilla ocimoides, Ipomea batatas Paederia foetida Clerodendrum coleobrookianum, Bacopa monieri, e e t t c c . . Type VI A A l l i i e e n n t t h h u u s s e e x x c c e e l l s s a a , , H H e e t t e e r r o o p p e e n n e e x x f f r r a a g g a a n n s s , , M M e e n n i i h h o o t t e e s s c c u u l l e e n n t t a a , , Morus alba, L L i i s s e e a a m m o o n n o o p p e e t t e e l l a a , , Aquilaria agallocha & & B B a a m m b b o o o o s s p p p p , , Azadirachta indica, Areca catechu R R i i c c i i n n u u s s c c o o m m m m u u n n i i s s , , Citrus spp., Nyctanthes arboristis, Cinnamomum tamala Musa sp, Carica papaya, Z Z i i n n g g i i b b e e r r e e r r o o f f f f i i c c i i n n a a l l i i s s , , C C u u r r c c u u m m a a l l o o n n g g r r a a , , L L y y c c o o p p e e r r s s i i c c u u m m s s p p p p . . , Colocasia , Pteris critica, Perilla ocimoides, Ipomea batatas Paederia foetida, Clerodendrum spp,, Bacopa monieri e e t t c c . . ConclusionThe study reveals that a considerable number of plant species are sheltered in the homesteads by the owner villagers and used to take benefits from them while utilizing this biodiversity and consequently, conserve them with their own choice generation after generation. They have developed unique traditional agro techniques and management practices for conservation of these plant species. Simultaneously, they become experienced with International Research Journal of Biological Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2278-3202 Vol. 3(1), 89-94, January (2014) Int. Res. J. Biological Sci. International Science Congress Association 94 valuable knowledge in processing, harvesting, storage technology and eventually adding products out of these bioresources. Therefore, further extensive study is needed to document all these indigenous knowledge. The homesteads are described as suitable land of in-situ conservation of many plant species. Plant species grown in the homesteads reported to use in various cultural and religious festivals of different ethnic groups of Assamese society6. Similar report on use of hundreds of plant species of the homesteads are mentioned to have insecticidal and pesticidal properties and phyto-pesticides to control agricultural pests7-9Moreover, people of this locality used many plant species available in the homesteads for treatment and cure of disease10-12. Presently, while questioning the owner of the homesteads some of them are found more interested in income generating commercial plantation such as tea, Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) and even bamboo instead of multicropping system prevailing in homesteads. This may happen to be a serious threat to the biodiversity that traditionally conserved in homesteads in near future. Therefore, scientists, researchers and naturalists have to give priority in bioprospecting and value addition of the other homesteads resources for better income generation and to conserve biodiversity of the homesteads. The existing plant species having medicinal value are collected homesteads or from natural habitat used up by indigenous tribes in Assam13,14. Research on these medicinal plant species recorded in homesteads of Assam may give new drug molecules as in Cassia fristula15. Plant species planted and maintained generation wise in the homesteads are traditional need based as reveled in this study and may be a major part of total phytodiversity of the region. Therefore, in present day global market situation there is a need to make people conscious about the importance of the biodiversity they conserved in homesteads. 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