Lower Dir's Pinus roxburghii forests are a vital socio-ecological system with great floristic and ethnobotanical diversity. Therophytes and microphylls indicate semi-arid climate and anthropogenic pressure adaption. This integrative study evaluates its floristic composition, vegetation structure, carbon sequestration capability, and phytochemical features to provide evidence-based conservation and sustainable management solutions for this rare temperate environment. The data was documented by systematic field visits, quantified vegetation structure using a quadrat system (10x10 m for trees, 5x5 m for shrubs, 1x1 m for herbs) and certified voucher specimens in a specific herbarium. Carbon sequestration capacity was assessed by calculating total carbon stock from aboveground biomass (AGB = ρ × A × H) and soil organic carbon (SOC = BD × D × %C). Select medicinal species underwent elemental profiling using Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and phytochemical screening using sequential solvent extraction and standardized bioactive component tests. A high-resolution ecological profile revealed 10 plant communities with a therophyte-rich understory (45.07%), showing disturbance adaptation. Sandy to silty loams varied in texture across elevations, indicating diverse nutrient distribution. The forests show high carbon sequestration, with total stocks of 42.66 to 72.04 t C ha⁻¹, mostly from coniferous attitudes. The ethnobotanical value of the flora was empirically evaluated by phytochemical and elemental tests that confirmed bioactive chemicals and necessary elements in medicinal plants, supporting cultural uses. This study confirms the biological and cultural importance of study area. The study shows that adaptive plant community methodologies, edaphic variability, and indigenous behaviors maintain a dynamic and resourceful environment. Quantified sequestration capability and bioactive agent presence show that this landscape regulates global climate and improves community well-being. This area must be preserved by combining ecological stewardship with the economic value of its native species to ensure its future viability.

Keywords: Floristic diversity; ethnobotanical diversity; plant communities; carbon sequestration; biodiversity conservation; soil properties.