138
S. Nautiyal et al.
316 species in India are under threat of extinction.
20 In addition, traditional medicinal practices took a back seat due to advancement of allopathic medicine (western
medicine). New guideline based on WHO-IUCN-WWF consultation in Thailand
(1988) has eventually led to the ‘Chiang Mai Declaration’ calling for action to ‘save
plants that saves our lives’. It is comprising of eight Indian states covering an area of
2,62,060 km
2 . and represents 8% of the country’s total geographical area. Further,
international organisations like UNDP, IDRC, OXFAM, WHO, Ford Foundation and
the World Bank have been funding extensively for the conservation and development
of medicinal plant ecosystem and biodiversity in India and Asia (Shukla and Gardner
2006).
A report by WHO estimates that more than 80% of the population in both developed and developing countries rely on traditional system of medicines (Batugal et al
2004; Shukla and Gardner 2006), largely plant and herb based therapeutics, to meet
their primary health care needs, pharmaceuticals,
21 food supplements, flavouring,
perfumes, cosmetic industries, veterinary care etc. Traditionally local use of medicinal plants can be categorized into three categories (i) Traditional System of Medicine
(TSM) (ii) Traditional Medicinal Knowledge or Folk Medicine and (iii) Shamanistic
or Spiritual Medicine with strong religious and spiritual element which practiced by
‘Shamans’ (Planning Commission 2000; Hegde 2003; Shukla and Gardner 2006).
In addition, women’s role in traditional medicinal skills and passing the knowledge
to future generation cannot be overlooked (Belt et al. 2003). A majority of 70,000
species used in folk medicine are found in Asia-Pacific region (Batugal et al 2004).
While in China, over 5000 plant species are used in various forms of drugs and
traditional medicine, here in India over 2500 species
22 are known for its traditional
medicinal value (Hegde n.d) and use only 960 varieties of medicinal species out
of which 90% is collected from wild. Nearly 43% of the India’s rich medicinal
biodiversity
23 is situated in Northeastern region (Majeed 2015).
In 21st Century, traditional medicinal practices serve only as alternative therapy
24
due to easy accessibility and lower prices in rural areas. Both traditional and modern
system of medicine across the world depends on around 50,000 species (SMPB
2012). As per WHO estimates 60% of India’s population depends upon traditional
20 Refer UNDP’s ‘Conserving Medicinal Plants, Sustaining Livelihoods’ Accesses from
(http://www.in.undp.org/content/india/en/home/ourwork/environmentandenergy/successstories/
conserving-medicinal-plants-sustaining-livelihoods.html).
21 For instance 10 out of the world leading 25 top-selling drugs are derived from natural sources in
1997. Similarly, it is estimated that annually the global market value of Pharmaceuticals derived
from genetic resources to be US$ 75,000–150,000 million. In India, 226 medicinal plants species
are used by the Pharmaceutical Industries (Rao and Arora 2004).
22 Nearly 359 medicinal species used in Ayurveda fall under endangered category (Majeed 2015).
23 Rich medicinal plant biodiversity includes (i) Himachal Pradesh (Himalayas) producing and
supplying 80% of Ayurvedic medicines, Western Ghats one of the mega-biodiversity of ‘hotspots’,
tropical forest of Vindhyas, Chhotanagpur plateau and Aravalis (Subrat 2002).
24 There are about 4,60,000 registered practitioners using medicinal plants and 851 homeopathy
treatment centres (Planning Commission 2000).
S. Nautiyal et al.
316 species in India are under threat of extinction.
20 In addition, traditional medicinal practices took a back seat due to advancement of allopathic medicine (western
medicine). New guideline based on WHO-IUCN-WWF consultation in Thailand
(1988) has eventually led to the ‘Chiang Mai Declaration’ calling for action to ‘save
plants that saves our lives’. It is comprising of eight Indian states covering an area of
2,62,060 km
2 . and represents 8% of the country’s total geographical area. Further,
international organisations like UNDP, IDRC, OXFAM, WHO, Ford Foundation and
the World Bank have been funding extensively for the conservation and development
of medicinal plant ecosystem and biodiversity in India and Asia (Shukla and Gardner
2006).
A report by WHO estimates that more than 80% of the population in both developed and developing countries rely on traditional system of medicines (Batugal et al
2004; Shukla and Gardner 2006), largely plant and herb based therapeutics, to meet
their primary health care needs, pharmaceuticals,
21 food supplements, flavouring,
perfumes, cosmetic industries, veterinary care etc. Traditionally local use of medicinal plants can be categorized into three categories (i) Traditional System of Medicine
(TSM) (ii) Traditional Medicinal Knowledge or Folk Medicine and (iii) Shamanistic
or Spiritual Medicine with strong religious and spiritual element which practiced by
‘Shamans’ (Planning Commission 2000; Hegde 2003; Shukla and Gardner 2006).
In addition, women’s role in traditional medicinal skills and passing the knowledge
to future generation cannot be overlooked (Belt et al. 2003). A majority of 70,000
species used in folk medicine are found in Asia-Pacific region (Batugal et al 2004).
While in China, over 5000 plant species are used in various forms of drugs and
traditional medicine, here in India over 2500 species
22 are known for its traditional
medicinal value (Hegde n.d) and use only 960 varieties of medicinal species out
of which 90% is collected from wild. Nearly 43% of the India’s rich medicinal
biodiversity
23 is situated in Northeastern region (Majeed 2015).
In 21st Century, traditional medicinal practices serve only as alternative therapy
24
due to easy accessibility and lower prices in rural areas. Both traditional and modern
system of medicine across the world depends on around 50,000 species (SMPB
2012). As per WHO estimates 60% of India’s population depends upon traditional
20 Refer UNDP’s ‘Conserving Medicinal Plants, Sustaining Livelihoods’ Accesses from
(http://www.in.undp.org/content/india/en/home/ourwork/environmentandenergy/successstories/
conserving-medicinal-plants-sustaining-livelihoods.html).
21 For instance 10 out of the world leading 25 top-selling drugs are derived from natural sources in
1997. Similarly, it is estimated that annually the global market value of Pharmaceuticals derived
from genetic resources to be US$ 75,000–150,000 million. In India, 226 medicinal plants species
are used by the Pharmaceutical Industries (Rao and Arora 2004).
22 Nearly 359 medicinal species used in Ayurveda fall under endangered category (Majeed 2015).
23 Rich medicinal plant biodiversity includes (i) Himachal Pradesh (Himalayas) producing and
supplying 80% of Ayurvedic medicines, Western Ghats one of the mega-biodiversity of ‘hotspots’,
tropical forest of Vindhyas, Chhotanagpur plateau and Aravalis (Subrat 2002).
24 There are about 4,60,000 registered practitioners using medicinal plants and 851 homeopathy
treatment centres (Planning Commission 2000).