Most of the population

Most of the population in some Asian and African countries depend on medicinal plants rather than prescriptions and such.[48] Since so many

people use medicinal plants as their only source of healing in the Himalayas, the plants are an important source of income. This contributes

to economic and modern industrial development both inside and outside the region.[48] The only problem is that locals are rapidly clearing the forests on the Himalayas for wood, often illegally.[56]

The Himalayas are also a source of many minerals and precious stones. Amongst the tertiary rocks, are vast potentials of mineral oil.

There is coal located in Kashmir, and precious stones located in the Himalayas. There is also gold, silver, copper, zinc, and many other such minerals and metals located in at least 100 different places in these mountains.[57]