Medicinal Plant Biodiversity in India: Harnessing Opportunities …
147
2005) without forward linkages for post-harvesting management, processing or marketing infrastructure. For instance, though North-eastern
35 region
36 is endowed with
rich medicinal biodiversity in flora, vegetation, culture and climate yet medicinal
plant cultivation is restricted to traditional application and most often the produce
is undervalued for poor quality. Lack awareness on harnessing for sustainable use
and market needs adds to the constraints (Haridasan 2015). Many medicinal plant
species are under threat
37 due over exploitation for modern industries. According to
the studies, about 112 species in Southern India, 74 species in Northern and Central
India and 42 species in the high altitude of Himalayas are seriously threatened in the
wild (Uniyal 2015). Table 3 provides a glimpse on various types of constraints for
harnessing medicinal plant cultivation in India.
Unsustainable use of medicinal plants and herbs for Pharmaceutical, Aromaticchemical industries is causing fast depletion from its natural habitats (Nautiyal
et al. 2005). As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN) 16 Red List of Threatened Species, more than 300 plant species
which includes medicinal plants are threatened with extinction (CUTS 2004). Globally only very few medicinal plant species are cultivated on large and those cultivated
does not cater to the global demand. For instance in China, only 100–250 species of
medicinal plants are cultivated on large scale. Even in Europe, out of the 1200–1300
species of native medicinal plants only 130–140 are derived predominantly from
cultivation (ibid).
8 Harnessing Medicinal Plant Cultivation for Improved
Food Security in India
Harnessing medicinal plant cultivation for improved food security in India is the area
which has been largely underexplored. Medicinal plants particularly, herbal plants
have been contributing significantly to the livelihood of rural communities particularly the tribes who rely on benefits from traditional medicinal practices for monetary and non-monetary (GoI 2011; Planning Commission 2000) purposes. Medicinal
Plant Conservation Areas (MPCAs) are created for conservation of rich biodiversity
of medicinal and aromatic plants FRLHT (See footnote 31). The Foundation for
Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT)—a Bangalore based NGO has
established 34 MPCAs in South India. Besides, MPCAs network has already started
in many states of India to supports sustainable use and for expanding the benefits of
equal-sharing (Rajpurohit and Jhang 2015). Similarly, efforts are made to cultivate
35 Eight states forming North-eastern region is richly endowed with flora and fauna. Each state has
its own forest coverage which is above national average of 21.05% (Haridasan 2015).
36 The Northeast region has secured its place as one of the 25 hot spots of mega diversity with rich
medicinal plant species and endemism (Majeed 2015).
37 At least 40 threatened or endangered species constitute Germany’s imports (Lambert et al. 1997).
147
2005) without forward linkages for post-harvesting management, processing or marketing infrastructure. For instance, though North-eastern
35 region
36 is endowed with
rich medicinal biodiversity in flora, vegetation, culture and climate yet medicinal
plant cultivation is restricted to traditional application and most often the produce
is undervalued for poor quality. Lack awareness on harnessing for sustainable use
and market needs adds to the constraints (Haridasan 2015). Many medicinal plant
species are under threat
37 due over exploitation for modern industries. According to
the studies, about 112 species in Southern India, 74 species in Northern and Central
India and 42 species in the high altitude of Himalayas are seriously threatened in the
wild (Uniyal 2015). Table 3 provides a glimpse on various types of constraints for
harnessing medicinal plant cultivation in India.
Unsustainable use of medicinal plants and herbs for Pharmaceutical, Aromaticchemical industries is causing fast depletion from its natural habitats (Nautiyal
et al. 2005). As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN) 16 Red List of Threatened Species, more than 300 plant species
which includes medicinal plants are threatened with extinction (CUTS 2004). Globally only very few medicinal plant species are cultivated on large and those cultivated
does not cater to the global demand. For instance in China, only 100–250 species of
medicinal plants are cultivated on large scale. Even in Europe, out of the 1200–1300
species of native medicinal plants only 130–140 are derived predominantly from
cultivation (ibid).
8 Harnessing Medicinal Plant Cultivation for Improved
Food Security in India
Harnessing medicinal plant cultivation for improved food security in India is the area
which has been largely underexplored. Medicinal plants particularly, herbal plants
have been contributing significantly to the livelihood of rural communities particularly the tribes who rely on benefits from traditional medicinal practices for monetary and non-monetary (GoI 2011; Planning Commission 2000) purposes. Medicinal
Plant Conservation Areas (MPCAs) are created for conservation of rich biodiversity
of medicinal and aromatic plants FRLHT (See footnote 31). The Foundation for
Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT)—a Bangalore based NGO has
established 34 MPCAs in South India. Besides, MPCAs network has already started
in many states of India to supports sustainable use and for expanding the benefits of
equal-sharing (Rajpurohit and Jhang 2015). Similarly, efforts are made to cultivate
35 Eight states forming North-eastern region is richly endowed with flora and fauna. Each state has
its own forest coverage which is above national average of 21.05% (Haridasan 2015).
36 The Northeast region has secured its place as one of the 25 hot spots of mega diversity with rich
medicinal plant species and endemism (Majeed 2015).
37 At least 40 threatened or endangered species constitute Germany’s imports (Lambert et al. 1997).