Medicinal Plant Biodiversity in India: Harnessing Opportunities …
155
etc. (Belt et al. 2003). It is also observed that, out of 960 traded medicinal species, 178
are consumed in volumes exceeding 100 MT per year. The consumption accounts
for 80% of the total industrial demand (Ved and Goraya 2008; Nautiyal et al. 2015).
Some of the major suppliers to the world market are china, Singapore, Brazil, India
and Egypt. The leading trade centres are United States (US) and the European Union
(EU) and Germany (Belt et al. 2003). The global trade of medicinal plants amounts
to US$7,592 million by 2011 with the share of China is US$1,329 million and India
US$790 million (Majeed 2015). So both China and India two largest producers of
medicinal plants have more than 40% share of global biodiversity. While China is
the largest exporter (1,21,900 tonnes a year) of medicinal plants followed by India
(32, 600 tonnes a year) (CUTS 2004; Rao and Arora 2004). China exports based on
plants are estimated to be around Rs. 180,000 to Rs. 220,000 million (ibid). Estimated
domestic trade of AYUSH industry is Rs. 80 to Rs. 90 billion and accounts Rs. 10
billion for exports alone. But Indian share of world medicinal trade very quite low
as compared to world herbal trade constituting US$ 120 billion which is expected to
reach US$ 7 trillion by 2050.
46 For the year 2004–05, India exported 40,000 metric
tonnes of medicines in raw form.
47 During 11th Plan year only 20% of the 178 major
medicinal plant species were traded as raw drugs (Planning Commission 2013). At
International level demand for medicinal plants is very strong in US, Europe, Japan
and South East Asia with sizeable markets. Countries like USA, Germany, UK,
France and China/Taiwan are major importers of Indian medicinal plants, together
accounting for 75 per cent of total exports (Subrat 2002).
9.1 Case Studies on the Role of Indigenous Communities
in the Conservation of Medicinal Plants and Food
Security
Here two cases on the traditional use, conservation and economic potential of medicinal plants in the Nanda Devi Biosphere, in the central Himalayan region of India
and BRTTR region in Karnataka, is presented.
Out of 2500 medicinal plant species in the Indian sub-continent region, majority
of medicinal plants are grown in Himalayan region. Especially, indigenous Bhotiya
communities greatly rely on medicinal plants for their livelihood. The settlement of
Bhotiya community (see Picture 1) is located on the upper Rishi Ganga catchment
area in the Nanda Devi Biosphere reserve, of Uttarakhand state (Chamoli district).
A total of ten villages consisting of 2253 population (419 households) belong to an
Indo-Mongoloid ethnic group. This Bhotiya community has three sub-communities
namely: Tolchha, Marchha and Jadh. Among these sub-communities, a total of
46 From National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB). Refer (http://nmpb.nic.in/).
47 National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) (2012). Centrally Sponsored Scheme
of National Mission on Medicinal Plants: Operational Guidelines. Access from:
(nmpb.nic.in/…/7848115600Proposed%20Centrally%20Sponsored%20Sc).
155
etc. (Belt et al. 2003). It is also observed that, out of 960 traded medicinal species, 178
are consumed in volumes exceeding 100 MT per year. The consumption accounts
for 80% of the total industrial demand (Ved and Goraya 2008; Nautiyal et al. 2015).
Some of the major suppliers to the world market are china, Singapore, Brazil, India
and Egypt. The leading trade centres are United States (US) and the European Union
(EU) and Germany (Belt et al. 2003). The global trade of medicinal plants amounts
to US$7,592 million by 2011 with the share of China is US$1,329 million and India
US$790 million (Majeed 2015). So both China and India two largest producers of
medicinal plants have more than 40% share of global biodiversity. While China is
the largest exporter (1,21,900 tonnes a year) of medicinal plants followed by India
(32, 600 tonnes a year) (CUTS 2004; Rao and Arora 2004). China exports based on
plants are estimated to be around Rs. 180,000 to Rs. 220,000 million (ibid). Estimated
domestic trade of AYUSH industry is Rs. 80 to Rs. 90 billion and accounts Rs. 10
billion for exports alone. But Indian share of world medicinal trade very quite low
as compared to world herbal trade constituting US$ 120 billion which is expected to
reach US$ 7 trillion by 2050.
46 For the year 2004–05, India exported 40,000 metric
tonnes of medicines in raw form.
47 During 11th Plan year only 20% of the 178 major
medicinal plant species were traded as raw drugs (Planning Commission 2013). At
International level demand for medicinal plants is very strong in US, Europe, Japan
and South East Asia with sizeable markets. Countries like USA, Germany, UK,
France and China/Taiwan are major importers of Indian medicinal plants, together
accounting for 75 per cent of total exports (Subrat 2002).
9.1 Case Studies on the Role of Indigenous Communities
in the Conservation of Medicinal Plants and Food
Security
Here two cases on the traditional use, conservation and economic potential of medicinal plants in the Nanda Devi Biosphere, in the central Himalayan region of India
and BRTTR region in Karnataka, is presented.
Out of 2500 medicinal plant species in the Indian sub-continent region, majority
of medicinal plants are grown in Himalayan region. Especially, indigenous Bhotiya
communities greatly rely on medicinal plants for their livelihood. The settlement of
Bhotiya community (see Picture 1) is located on the upper Rishi Ganga catchment
area in the Nanda Devi Biosphere reserve, of Uttarakhand state (Chamoli district).
A total of ten villages consisting of 2253 population (419 households) belong to an
Indo-Mongoloid ethnic group. This Bhotiya community has three sub-communities
namely: Tolchha, Marchha and Jadh. Among these sub-communities, a total of
46 From National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB). Refer (http://nmpb.nic.in/).
47 National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) (2012). Centrally Sponsored Scheme
of National Mission on Medicinal Plants: Operational Guidelines. Access from:
(nmpb.nic.in/…/7848115600Proposed%20Centrally%20Sponsored%20Sc).