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Conservation medicinal plants

The document discusses conservation of medicinal plants in India. It notes that 95% of plants used in Indian systems of medicine are collected from the wild, leading to overharvesting and threats to many species. Several organizations in India are working to promote in-situ and ex-situ conservation of medicinal plants, including establishing medicinal plant conservation areas and conservation parks. International organizations like CITES, IUCN, and WHO also support conservation efforts and sustainable use of medicinal plant resources.

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MEDICINAL PLANTS CONSERVATION
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.
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.
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.
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
 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)
• 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
In-situ Field gene bank Botanical garden Genetic reserve On-farm Home,garden,orchard,etc
Field gene bank Storing recalcitrant species Easy access for characterization and evaluation Disadvantage Increase susceptibility Involves larger areas and land High maintenance cost
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
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
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
Home, Orchard Dynamic conservation Disadvantage Vulnerable to changes in management practices
Ex-situ  Seed storage  In-vitro storage  DNA storage  Pollen storage
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......
 Problem in storing recalcitrant species  Freezes evolutionary development  Genetic diversity may be lost  Restricted to single taxon conservation Disadvantages
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.
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.
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
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)
Monitoring
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.
 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
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)
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)
Ethnobotanic garden  Traditional, folk lore knowledge based garden  Different ethnic communities involved  Herbal garden (Rathod et.al,2004)
Cultivation  Relive the pressure on wild species exploitation  Ensured supply and generating variation among plants (R.P.Matto,2003)
ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN MEDICINAL PLANTS CONSERVATION
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.
 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.
 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
MPCN 1500 species, includes 76 RED – listed species MPCN ( Medicinal Plant Conservation Network) Insitu conservation Exsitu conservation ( Forest areas ) ( conservation parks )
MPCA for Redlisted Species MPCAs State Institute Charmadi, Kemmengudi Karnataka ATREE Kollihills Tamilnadu IFGTB Gastiarmalai, Wynad, Silent valley, kulamavu Kerala TBGRI
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.
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
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
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.
GIFTS The Global Initiative for Traditional Systems of Health in co-operation with IDRC. ICMAPS International Council on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPS)
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
 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.
 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.
 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.
 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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
 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.
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.
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.
 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.
 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.
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.
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.
 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.
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.
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
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
 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