Medicinal plants conservation

1. MEDICINAL PLANTS
CONSERVATION

2. WHAT IS CONSERVATION ?
• Conservation is the preservation and
careful management of the natural
resources for long term survival.
• Conservation of species is best ensured
by protecting its natural habitat, where
the species continues to grow reproduce
and evolve along with its associated
plants, animals and microorganisms.

3. Conservation Vs sustainable use
 Conservation - maintenance by
natural process of reproduction –
evolution without human intervention
 Sustainable use – tolerable human
harvests, ensuring that these natural
processes are intact.

4. Medicinal Plants - Status
 There are over 5000 manufacturers in India with
a turn over of Rs.2000 crores
 Estimated to reach Rs.4000 crores by the end of
this century
Demand increases –Survival under natural habitat
is under threat
Conservation – Need of the hour
Conservation not only serve national interests but
also serve global need.

5. Plants used in various System
of Medicine
Around 8000 sp. are used by ISM in India
Systems of
Medicine
No. of Sp. Used
Ayurveda 1769
Folk 4671
Homeopathy 482
Siddha 1121
Tibetan 279
Unani 751

6.  95% of plants collected from wild.
 Destructive harvesting
 High range Himalayan plants are Close to
extinction due to over harvesting
 Efforts are needed to develop methods for
in-situ and ex-situ conservation.
 Efforts are lacking in the area of
biotechnology and agro technology for
encouraging cultivation
(Ved et.al,1993)

8. • Conservation in natural habitats
• Extinct in next 3 generations
• Medicinal Plants Conservation Areas (MPCA)
• Includes 75% Red listed specie
• Implemented by state forest department of
-Tamilnadu, Kerala & Karnataka (1993) ,AP & Maharashtra (1999)
In situ
Ex situ
• Conservation outside the natural habitats,.
Eg – Conservation Parks
• FRLHT, MPCP, RLHT

9. In-situ
Field gene bank
Botanical garden
Genetic reserve
On-farm
Home,garden,orchard,etc

10. Field gene bank
Storing recalcitrant species
Easy access for characterization and
evaluation
Disadvantage
Increase susceptibility
Involves larger areas and land
High maintenance cost

11. Botanical garden
Freedom to focus on wild plants
Easy public access for conservation
education
Freedom focus on non-economic plants
Disadvantage
Space limits numbers
High maintenance cost
Restricted genetic diversity

12. Genetic reserve
Dynamic conservation
Easy access for evolutionary and genetic studies
Appropriate method for recalcitrant species
Conservation of a diverse range of wild relatives
possibility of multiple taxa reserve
Disadvantage
Lack of easy availability for utilization
Vulnerable to natural and man-directed disaster
Require High level monitoring and supervision
Conserve only Limited genetic diversity

13. On-farm
Dynamic conservation
Ensure conservation in traditional land races
Ensure conservation of weedy crop relative and
ancestral forms
Disadvantage
Vulnerable to dynamic farming practices
Limited diversity can only be conserved

14. Home, Orchard
Dynamic conservation
Disadvantage
Vulnerable to changes in management
practices

15. Ex-situ
 Seed storage
 In-vitro storage
 DNA storage
 Pollen storage

16. Seed storage
 Efficient and reproducible
 Feasible for medium and long term storage
 Wide diversity of each taxon conserved
 Easy access for characterization and evaluation
 Easy access for utilization
 Little maintenance
cont......

17.  Problem in storing recalcitrant
species
 Freezes evolutionary development
 Genetic diversity may be lost
 Restricted to single taxon
conservation
Disadvantages

18. In-vitro storage
 Relatively easy and long term
conservation for large no. of
recalcitrant species.
 Easy access for evaluation
Disadvantage
 Risk of somaclonal variation
 Need to develop individual protocol
 Relatively high level technology and
maintenance.

19. DNA storage
 Relatively easy, low cost of
conservation
 Regeneration of entire plants from
DNA cannot be envisaged
 Problem with subsequent gene
isolation, cloning and transfer.

20. Pollen storage
 Relatively easy, low cost of
conservation
 Require individual protocol to haploid
plants
 Further research needed to produce
diploid plants
 Only Paternal material conserved

21. CBD
 The conservation of biodiversity
 The sustainable use of its components
 The fair and equitable sharing of the
benefits from the use of genetic resources.
 In 2002, CBD adopted the global strategy
for plant conservation.
( schippmann
et.al,2003)

22. Monitoring

23. GIS
GIS, facilitates the following
 Rapid assessment of biodiversity and its
monitoring (loss and/or gain);
 Assessment of nature of habitats and
disturbance regimes therein;
 Evolving species – habitat relationship;
 Mapping biological richness and gap
analysis; and
 Prioritizing conservation and
bioprospecting.

24.  Rapid conservation evaluation method at
large spatial scales
 Estimate temporal and spatial change
 GIS used to find gaps
 Establishment of new preserve
(Menon et.al,1997)
Gap analysis

25. Bioprospecting
 The search for valuable biochemical components and
genetic resource
 Ethno botanical information helps in quick screening
 Substantial increase in value of natural resource
 Molecular marker studied for conservation in
Himalayan wild species
(CSIR,2001)

26. Tissue culture
 Cell differentiation studies for secondary metabolites.
 Agrobacterium rhizogenes transformed hairy root
culture of Hyoscymus multicus using a plant
bioreactor
 Invitromorphogenesis facilitate germplasm
preservation of heterozygous hybrids (recalcitrant
seeds)
(Nandi et.al,2003)

27. Ethnobotanic garden
 Traditional, folk lore knowledge based
garden
 Different ethnic communities involved
 Herbal garden
(Rathod et.al,2004)

28. Cultivation
 Relive the pressure on wild species
exploitation
 Ensured supply and generating variation
among plants
(R.P.Matto,2003)

29. ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN
MEDICINAL PLANTS CONSERVATION

30. Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES)
 CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in
1963 at a meeting of members of IUCN (The World
Conservation Union). The text of the Convention was
finally agreed at a meeting of representatives of 80
countries in Washington DC. on 3 March 1973, and on 1
July 1975 CITES entered in force.

31.  It is an international agreement between
Governments to save plants and animals from
extinction.
 It ensures that international trade in specimens
of wild animals and plants does not threaten their
survival.
 The trade is diverse, ranging from live animals
and plants to a vast array of wildlife products
derived from them, including food products,
leather goods, wooden musical instruments,
timber, tourist curios and medicines.

32.  CITES is an international agreement to which States
(countries) adhere voluntarily.
 Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties - in other
words they have to implement the Convention - it does
not take the place of national laws.
 Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each
Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to
make sure that CITES is implemented at the national
level.
 CITES has been among the largest conservation
agreements in existence, with now 160 Parties.

33. CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
 Already ratified by over 130 countries
 Regulates the international trade in species threatened with
extinction.
 At present eleven of the Indian medicinal plants are included in
the appendices of CITES
 Aquilaria malaccensis,
 Dioscorea deltoidea
 Rauvolfia serpentina
 Cibotium barometz
 Podophyllum hexandrum
 Pterocarpus santalinus
 Saussurea costus
 Nardostachys grandiflora
 Picrorhiza kurrooa
 Taxus wallichiana.

34. Conservation Assessment of Medicinal
Plants (CAMP) in India
► The objective of CAMP workshops is to provide
strategic guidance for application of intensive
management and information collection techniques
to the threatened plants.
► The first workshop on flora was held in the island of
St. Helena, in the Pacific, in May 1993.
► The second and the first one in India, was held at
Bangalore on medicinal plant species of south India
in February 1995.
► This was jointly organized by FRLHT and CBSG
India represented by Zoo Outreach Organization
from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. The workshop
assessed 36 medicinal plants and assigned threat
status as per IUCN red list categories.

35. REGIONAL RESEARCH LABORATORY, JAMMU REGIONAL RESEARCH
LABORATORY, JAMMU
MANDATE
• To carryout R&D work with a view to boost the
industrial
development of north-western region of the country.
• To help in optimal utilization of natural resources of the
region.
• To explore and exploit hitherto untapped resources of
the
region.
• To provide consultancy, testing and equipment design /
fabrication facilities to entrepreneurs, industrial
establishments and government developmental
agencies.

36. Activities of CSIR
 Bio-prospecting of natural molecules
 Natural Products ( Cultivation , Improvement
and Processing)
 Natural Products Chemistry
 Resource Status of Medicinal plants
 Agrotechnology of prioritized plants
 Tissue culture protocols of prioritized plants
 Concept of organic culture as value
 Standardization using chemical and molecular
markers
 Design, fabrication and commissioning of pilot
plants

37. Conservation Assessment and
Management Plan (CAMP) -IUCN
 Endemicity (as reported in published studies).
 Taxa already red listed as per Red Data Book of
Indian Plants (largely based on assessment of
herbarium records).
 Taxa used in high quantities by herbal
industries (as per limited data available from
major herbal industries and trade agencies).
 Taxa which are reported to be in short supply
by the traders/consumers and those
commanding abnormally high price in the
market indicating scarcity of the resource.

38. FRLHT
Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT)
FRLHT, a non governmental organization which
was established in 1991, is dedicated to the
cause of revitalization of India's rich and
diverse health traditions
FRLHT is a registered Public Trust and Charitable
Society
i) Conserving natural resources used by Indian
Systems of Medicine
ii) Demonstrating contemporary relevance of theory and
practice of Indian Systems of Medicine
iii) Revitalization of social processes

39. MPCN
1500 species, includes 76 RED – listed species
MPCN
( Medicinal Plant Conservation Network)
Insitu conservation Exsitu conservation
( Forest areas ) ( conservation parks )

41. MPCA for Redlisted Species
MPCAs State Institute
Charmadi, Kemmengudi Karnataka ATREE
Kollihills Tamilnadu IFGTB
Gastiarmalai, Wynad, Silent
valley, kulamavu
Kerala TBGRI

42. KARNATAKA
 BAIF Institute for Rural Development, Titpur.
 Belgaum Integrated Rural Development Society,
Belgaum.
 Sri Taralabalu Rural Development Foundaion, Sirigere.
 India Development Service (I), Dharward.
 Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), Bangalore.
KERALA
 Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute,
(TBGRI),Trivandrum.
 Peermade Development Society, (PDS) Peermade.
 Centre for Indian Medical Heritage, (CIMH), Kanjikode.
 Wayanad Social Service Society, Kerala.
MAHARASHTRA
 Academy of Development Science, Raigad.

43. Med plants Global networks
 Dissemination of medicinal plants related
knowledge drawn from traditional and modern
knowledge systems and including market
information
 Research on selected medical, sociological and
epistemological aspects of Indian Medicinal

44. Plant Conservation Alliance
Medicinal Plant Working Group
This includes representatives from industry,
government, academic, Tribes, and
environmental organizations
Generate and Share Information Regarding Species of
Medicinal and Economic Importance and Conservation
Concern
Promote Appropriate Conservation Measures for Native
Medicinal Plants
Promote Sustainable Production of Native Medicinal Plant
Products
Increase Participation in Native Medicinal Plant
Conservation
Encourage Active Participation by Tribes and Other Holders
of Traditional Ecological Knowledge Pertaining to Native
Medicinal Plants

45. International organizations in MAP
Conservation
FAO
In early 1980s, initial list of 22
medicinal plants used as raw
materials for drug production
FIADREP
International Federation of
Associations of Defence in
Phytotherapy Research and
Training.

46. GIFTS
The Global Initiative for Traditional
Systems of Health in co-operation with
IDRC.
ICMAPS
International Council on Medicinal and
Aromatic Plants (MAPS)

47. IOCD - International Organization for Chemical
Sciences in Development
Established in 1981, and based in the USA, IOCD
organizes training activities in medicinal plants
(Panama, 1997); traditional medicine (Nepal,
1997) and plant pharmacology (Peru, 1997)

48. IUCN
International
Union for the
Conservation
of Nature
Strategic activities focusing on principles and methods
for plant conservation
Field projects using planned strategic principles and
methods
Development of a Guide and Strategy for Centres of
Plant Diversity and their Conservation
Botanic Gardens Conservation Strategy
Conservation of Wild plants of economic value

49. IUCN - RED list Categories
Extinct(Ex)
No reasonable doubt that last individual – died
Critically
endangered (CR)
Facing an extremely high risk
of extinction in immediate future
Eg., Coscinium
Endangered (EN)
Critically endangered but facing
high risk of extinction in near future
Eg.Kingiodendron pinnatum
Vulnerable (VU) Lower Risk (LR)
Neither CR nor EN
facing a high risk of extinction
in medium term future
- Eg., Aristolachia tagala
Not satisfy criteria
for any of CR, EN or VU
Nayar and Sastry, 1998

50. TRAFFIC
Joint wildlife monitoring
programme of the World Wildlife
Fund and International Union for
the Conservation of Nature.
International Network issuing
authorities reports on the conservation,
use, protection and trade of medicinal
plants and wildlife resources (inclusive of
endangered and rare species of flora and
fauna in Africa, Asia, Europe and the
Pacific.
UNESCO
Policy discussion on Protection of
Interest in Utilization
of Biological Resources of
Developing Countries,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1996,
resulting from the following
concerns:
of academic and scientific
sustainable infrastructures
Development of a Policy guideline on
bioprospecting and the requirements for
permitting collaborative biological
research and bioprospecting in the South
and Southeast region

51. WHO
Traditional Medicine
Programme. WHO operates
network of 19 Collaborating
Centres in ten countries:
Belgium, China, Democratic
Peoples Republic of Korea, Italy,
Japan, Republic of Korea,
Romania, Sudan, USA and
Vietnam
Assists Member States in:
-formulation of national policies on
traditional medicine
- evaluation of practices, safety, and
efficiency of remedies
- education of general public and
upgrading of traditional and
- modern health practitioners about
proven traditional medicinal
practices

52. WWF
World Wildlife Fund for Nature
People and Plants Initiative (PPI)
amongst other activities such as
park use and woodcarving,
focuses on:
PPI is a partnership programme
incorporating inputs from WWF,
UNESCO (through its Man and the
Biosphere (MAB) programmes and
the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew,
Surrey, UK

53. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Program
in Asia (MAPPA)
MAPPA’S South Asia Regional Office -New
Delhi
Works through regional, national and local
partners, including government organizations
(GOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
community-based organizations (CBOs), national
research institutions and universities.
MAPPA has developed a regional network of
expertise in community-based MAP conservation,
participatory research, and documentation.

54. List of some major organizations involved in
Medicinal Plants Conservation
Missouri Botanical Garden, USA
Biodiversity Conservation Network USA
International Development Research Center Canada & New Delhi
Bandaranayake Memorial Ayurvedic Research
Institute
Srilanka
Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu
Tropical Botanical Garden Research Institute Trivandrum
Centre for Ecological Sciences Bangalore
SRISTI Ahmedabad
Medicinal Plants and Biodiversity Project, Uganda
Research Foundation for Science, Technology and
Ecology,
New Delhi

55. WILD HARVESTING
 Indian households have been using nearly
8000 species of medicinal plants through
the ages for their health care needs.
 Over one and half million traditional
healers use a wide range of medicinal
plants for healthcare of humans and
livestock
 Over 800 medicinal plant species are
currently in use by the Indian herbal
industry. However, except for about 120
species, all others are collected from the
wild.

56.  This collection often involves destructive
harvesting when parts like roots, bark,
wood, stem and the whole plant (herbs) are
used.
 Unregulated wild harvest, alongside habitat
loss and degradation is leading to resource
depletion and which in turn is questioning
the very survival of these species and hence
urgent conservation measures need to be
put in place.

57.  The demand for medicinal plants is growing
exponentially, no serious conservation or
cultivation efforts were undertaken until
recently either by the concerned user
agencies or by the resource mangers
 However, as a first step towards addressing
this issue, beginning from 1993 Tamil Nadu
Forest Department in collaboration with
FRLHT, a Bangalore based NGO, has devised
a conservation strategy.

58.  Under this initiative it has established a
network of 12 Medicinal Plants Conservation
Areas (MPCAs) in different forest locations
of Tamil Nadu. These MPCAs with an
average size of 200 ha represent forests of
high bio-diversity value and contain a high
proportion of the inter and intra specific
medicinal plant diversity of the region.

59.  Under this initiative it has established a
network of 12 Medicinal Plants
Conservation Areas (MPCAs) in different
forest locations of Tamil Nadu.
 These MPCAs with an average size of 200
ha represent forests of high bio-diversity
value and contain a high proportion of the
inter and intra specific medicinal plant
diversity of the region

60. These MPCAs act as forest gene
banks and fulfill the following
purposes
 Conserve red-listed species which are on
the verge of extinction
 To maintain the germplasm of
economically important medicinal plant
species
 To supply genuine planting materials to
breeders, cultivators as well as for
raising Kitchen, Community and School
Herbal gardens.

61. These sites have also developed conservation education
facilities such as Nature trails, Demonstration gardens,
Interpretation centers for public use. The Danish International
Development Aid Agency (DANIDA) initially financed this
initiative.
MPCAs
Alagarkovil Thenmalai
Kodaikanal Topslip
Kodiakkarai Thaniparai
Kollihills Mundandurai
Kurumburam Courtallam
Pechiparai Nambikovil

62. ALARGARKOVIL
 Alagarkovil MPCA (Area - 250 Ha.) is part of
Alagar hill range, which forms the
southernmost part of the Eastern Ghats of
Dindigul Forest Division.
 At the foothills the vegetation is scrub jungle
and at higher elevations it is dry deciduous and
still higher it is moist deciduous type.
 Botanical survey has listed about 215 sp
of which 111 are of medicinal value.

63. KODAIKANAL
 The pristine Mathikettan shola (115 Ha),
a part of Reserved Forest of Kodaikanal
Forest Division.
 Floristic survey conducted in the
MPCA has documented 250 plant sp
of which 42 are of medicinal value.

64. KODIAKKARAI
 The Kodiakkarai MPCA (Area 150 Ha.) located in
Nagapattinam district of Tamilnadu.
 The Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest (TDEF), a
unique type of forest of this MPCA is
represented, at global level, only along the
Coramandal coast of peninsular India and in Sri
Lanka.
 It is estimated that 99% of this rare forest is
extinct and only 1% exists today.

65. KOLLIHILLS
 Kollihills MPCA (Area 210 Ha) is located in
the Karavallicombai reserve forest and is
one of the well-preserved forest patches of
Salem Forest Division.
 The Kollihills have been known to be a rich
source of medicinal plants from ancient
times.
 An ancient text "Kollimalai raghacium-500"
(Secrets of Kollihills and its wealth) is said
to include 500 poems describing about 64
rare medicinal plants, their occurrence, use
and mode of administration.

66. KURUMBURAM
 Kurumburam MPCA spread over an area of
109 Ha in the Kurumburam Reserved
Forests, is located near Marakkanam town,
Tindivanam taluk.
 Kurumbaram Reserved Forest is also a
representative of Tropical Dry Evergreen
Scrub forest and is one of the few areas of
such forest type left on the east coast
(Coramandal coast) of Tamil Nadu
 The MPCA harbors a wide variety of flora. So
far about 180 sp, 90 of which are of
medicinal value have been documented.

67. PECHIPARAI
 Pechiparai MPCA (Area - 160 Ha) is located
in Veerapuli reserved forests of
Kanyakumari forest division near the
water-spread area of the Pechiparai
reservoir.
 When the reservoir is full the MPCA gets
fragmented into small islands offering
thrilling boat rides set against the backdrop
of towering Western Ghats.
 A floristic survey has listed 152 medicinal
plant sp out of a total of 257 sp recorded
from the MPCA.
 Southern Moist Mixed Deciduous forest
forms the major forest type of the MPCA.

68. THENMALAI
 Thenmalai MPCA (Area 150 Ha) located in
the relatively undisturbed Eastern Ghats
Forests of Tirupathur Forest division in
Tiruvannamalai district makes it a suitable
site for insitu conservation of medicinal
plants
 This part of Eastern Ghats is one of the
richest sandal bearing tracks on the globe
and is popularly known as Javvadhu
(Sandal) hills.

69. TOPSLIP
 Topslip MPCA (Area 229 Ha) part of the
Karian (dark) Shola in Topslip is unique in
many ways.
 It is a special ecosystem and is the only
pocket of tropical wet evergreen forest
receiving as low a rainfall as 1800mm
contrary to the 3000mm rainfall normally
required.
 Topslip MPCA is part of the Indira Gandhi
Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park under
the jurisdiction of Pollachi Wildlife Warden in
the Coimbatore district.

70. THANIPARAI
 The Southern Mixed Dry Deciduous Forests
of which Thaniparai MPCA forms a part, was
an unreserved forest, in the Southern
Western Ghats, under the control of
Zamindars which, after the abolition of
Zamindari system, was declared as Saptur
Reserved Forests from 1st May 1979.
 The entire Saptur RF was declared as part of
the 'Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary'
from 26th December 1988, with its head
quarters at Srivilliputtur.

71. MUNDANTHURAI
 The Mundanthurai MPCA (Area 150 Ha) is a
representative area of the Southern Dry
Mixed Deciduous forests in Tamilnadu.
 It is located within the buffer zone of the
Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary, which in
turn is part of the Kalakkad Mundanthurai
Tiger Reserve, India's 17th Tiger Reserve
under Project Tiger in Ambasamudram Taluk
of Tirunelveli District.

72. COURTALLAM
 The Courtallam MPCA (Area 132 Ha) is a part of
Courtallam Reserved Forests in Tirunelveli Forest
division and it is the major catchment area for the
main Courtallam waterfalls.
 The famous waterfalls around Courtallam are
reported to have therapeutic effect and attract
lakhs of visitors every monsoon.
 The "Courtallam" town derives its name from the
name of the deity Arulmigu Tirukutralanther. The
temple dedicated to this deity and patronised by
early Chola and Pandya kings is a monument of
immense cultural, historical and architectural
value.

73. NAMBIKOVIL
 The Nambikovil MPCA (Area 400 Ha) is the second
MPCA within the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger
Reserve.
 This MPCA is unique in its concept that Janakia
arayalpathra (Tamil name: Sivanaar Arasu) a
monotypic, critically endangered (Global), Red
listed medicinal plant, endemic to Southern
Western Ghats with restricted distribution has been
chosen as the flagship plant species.
 This is on the similar line as the top predator Tiger
chosen as the flagship animal in the Project Tiger.

74. Other works of MPCA
 Medicinal plants nursery
 Excellent demonstration garden for rare
and endangered medicinal plants
 exsitu conservation of Saraca asoca in
home herbal gardens

75. Uncontrolled exploitation of Medicinal Plants
Wealth
 Despite all their importance, medicinal plants
are, for the moment at least, seldom handled
within an organized, regulated sector : most
are still exploited with little or no regard to the
future.
 As noted, escalating consumer demand is
already resulting in the indiscriminate harvest
of wild plants.
 This is damaging both ecosystems and their
precious biodiversity. The damage is especially
serious when bark, roots, seeds and flowers all
essential for the species survival are removed.

76. Creating Awareness for conservation of Medicinal
Plants
 Tradition is especially important in the case of
medicinal plants. Any strategy to preserve such
species will have to take people's needs and
perceptions into account.
 Local users often have a good understanding of how
sustainable harvesting should be practiced
(Cunningham, 1991).
 In China, plant-based medicine is the backbone of
the health care for perhaps a billion people;
botanicals are used for the primary health care
needs of 40 % of China's urban patients and over
90% of its rural patients.

77. Institutional Capacities
 At present few developing countries have the
resources or institutional capability to advise on
policy and regulatory mechanisms and to provide
the level of research required to guarantee a
production of medicinal plants to sustain local
pharmaceutical industries and provide for
healthcare needs.
 The subject tends to fall into two government
ministries that normally don't deal directly with
each other: agriculture and health.
 They would have to coordinate programs if
medicinal plants are to be cultivated.

78.  Any strategy should maintain the
long-term view. In principle at least,
medicinal plants could contribute
substantially to the overall
management of natural resources.
 Indeed, if given research and policy
support, they could potentially
become high-value components of
many agriculture and rural
development programs, perhaps
providing upscale alternatives to low-
value food crops.

79. Conservation of Medicinal Plants
Collection and Cultivation
 More than 75% of the herbal requirement
is met through wild collections.
 Species like Rauvolfia serpentina,
Terminalia chebula, Sapindus laurifolius,
Jatropha curcasare -- uncommon in
Western Ghat forests (Anonymous, 2001).
 Collection of herbs from the wild by
destructive harvesting followed by
unscientific handling has resulted in poor
quality products.

80. Cultivation
 Cultivation should be a major part of any
strategy. An increasing number of
developing countries are already showing an
interest in farming medicinal plants.
 The cultivation of medicinal plants provides
opportunities for genetic improvement.
 For one thing, selection and vegetative
propagation could produce cultivars that are
rich in active ingredients and also have
desirable agronomic traits such as good
yields, pest and disease resistance, and
environmental tolerance.

81.  Industry prefers raw material from cultivated
source because of authentication, reliability
and continuity.
 Non availability of quality planting material
coupled with poor development and
extension support in the cultivation and
processing and also unorganized markets are
the major constraints coming in the way of
commercialization of cultivation.
 Therefore, concentrated efforts are required,
both in collection and cultivation of medicinal
plants, in order to ensure sustainability of the
Industry.

82.  A well-managed cultivation program presents
an opportunity for local and national
authorities as well as communities to
exercise a beneficial influence over commerce
in medicinal plants and also ensure fair prices
to collectors and cultivators.
 Both in-situ and ex-situ cultivation programs
could be promoted especially to protect those
rare, endangered and vulnerable species
most threatened in their natural habitats.
 Investigations should be made into the
stability of each herbal product, taking into
account such practices as the effects of
sunlight, temperature, humidity, plant
husbandry, and packaging. But cultivation
may also exacerbate environmental
problems.

83. Certification for raw materials
 Today, many of the medicinal plants available in the
market place, are adulterated and are microbial
contaminated.
 This is due to absence of raw-material certification
requirements for the industry by the FDA and
absence of suitable post-harvest technologies,
especially related to drying of medicinal plants.
 It is absolutely essential that ISM (Indian System &
Medicines) Department sponsor and promotes
regional certification facilities to set gold standards
for raw drugs.

84. National Coordination mechanism
 A national medicinal plants council, commission or board
which can involve environment, health, science &
technology, agriculture commerce ministries, the private
sector and banks should be seriously considered as a
mechanism to coordinate policy and administrative
measures in this sector, that will
 (a) kick-start extensive cultivation
 (b) promote in situ conservation of genetic resources
 (c) promote gold standards for raw materials
 (d) regulate, and where it proves necessary, ban wild
collections.

85.  Commercialization of the medicinal plant sector as it
stands now is unplanned, unmonitored, poorly
understood, grossly inequitable and opaque.
 What is needed is a process fully participated by all
the major actors
 The process of globalization which has also started
adversely impacting the micro economies of the sub
sector, has added to the additional pressure to the on
going commercialization process which need to be
constantly monitored, evaluated and managed.

86. Overexploitation of
Medicinal Plants - Indian
Scenario
• In India, the traditional systems of medicine such
as Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha have a share of 70
per cent of the pharmaceutical market
• Export of crude drugs and essential oils in 1995
from India were US$ 53 million and US$ 13 million
respectively, altogether bringing revenue of US$
66 million.

87. Conservation Strategies
Expansion of the protected area network Maintaining viable
populations of species, whether plant or animal, is a crucial
factor in biodiversity conservation and this requires the
appropriate conservation of important ecosystems and
habitats
Population surveys and assessments and database creation
Mapping of forest types, protected areas, and natural forests
Improved protection efforts and a landscape approach to
conservation
In situ conservation
Captive breeding and species reintroduction

88. STATE OF GOVERNMENT POLICY
 Even today there is no comprehensive data
available with policy makers in government or user
industry on
 A complete check list of plant species in trade
 The volumes of specific species that are consumed
every year by commercial, semi-commercial and
non-commercial users
 The natural distribution, conservation biology and
threat status of species in trade
 The agrotechnology of species in high consumption

89.  Require scientific evaluation
 Conservation biology should be
studied
 Legal control against high volume
consumption of industries.
 Educating people about importance
of conservation
 Training tribal collectors for
sustainable way of consumption