166
S. Nautiyal et al.
10 Conclusion
Available literature ample prove that rich biodiversity of medicinal plants in India
constitute invaluable economic potential as well as livelihood for various local communities in terms of generating income opportunities. 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 Indian tribes who rely on benefits from traditional
practices for both monetary and non-monetary benefits. Therefore, the correlation
between cultivation of medicinal plants for improved food security especially in India
cannot be overruled.
Despite a great heritage of medicinal plants in India, major concern has been
accelerated anthropogenic pressure inducing loss of biodiversity of medicinal plants.
Further, though commercial production of medicinal plants gained momentum in
the past few years, but diversification of land for developmental projects and lack
institutional support and infrastructure has constrained the expansion for utilising
medicinal plants for sustaining the people’s livelihood. Once economic potential
and value chain improved, medicinal plants have enormous potential of generating
income opportunities and thereby reduce poverty.
Better management and conservation of medicinal plants imply addressing
shortcoming and threats of depletion, exploitation and impoverishment of natural
resources. There must be effective regulation of medicinal plant cultivation against
commercialisation and unsustainable practices. Also institutional coordination to
promote in situ and ex situ conservation would go a long way in addressing depletion of medicinal resources. Besides, research to understand the relationship between
household income and market potential of medicinal plants will help to promote sustainable conservation practices and enhance their contribution to the local people’s
lievelihood.
References
Alok SK (1991) Medicinal plants in India: approaches to exploitation and conservation. In: Akerele
O, Heywood V, Synge H (eds) Conservation of medicinal plants. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge
Banerji G, Basu S (2011) Sustainable management of the herbal wealth of the Himalayas: prioritising biodiversity for conservation and development. Access from: (https://www.pragya.org/doc/
Pragya_Herbal-Wealth.pdf)
Batugal PA, Kanniah J, Young LS, Oliver JT (eds) (2004) Medicinal plants research in Asia, vol 1:
the framework and project workplans. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute—Regional
Office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania (IPGRI-APO), Serdang, Selangor DE, Malaysia
Belt J, Lengkeek A, van der Zant J (2003) Cultivating a healthy enterprise developing a sustainable
medicinal plant chain in Uttaranchal—India. Bulletin 350, Royal Tropical Institute, Netherlands
Bera SK (2010) Globalisation and sustainable exports of Indian medicinal and aromatic plants: a protection study. MPRA Paper No. 28908. Accessed from: Online at http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.
de/28908/
S. Nautiyal et al.
10 Conclusion
Available literature ample prove that rich biodiversity of medicinal plants in India
constitute invaluable economic potential as well as livelihood for various local communities in terms of generating income opportunities. 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 Indian tribes who rely on benefits from traditional
practices for both monetary and non-monetary benefits. Therefore, the correlation
between cultivation of medicinal plants for improved food security especially in India
cannot be overruled.
Despite a great heritage of medicinal plants in India, major concern has been
accelerated anthropogenic pressure inducing loss of biodiversity of medicinal plants.
Further, though commercial production of medicinal plants gained momentum in
the past few years, but diversification of land for developmental projects and lack
institutional support and infrastructure has constrained the expansion for utilising
medicinal plants for sustaining the people’s livelihood. Once economic potential
and value chain improved, medicinal plants have enormous potential of generating
income opportunities and thereby reduce poverty.
Better management and conservation of medicinal plants imply addressing
shortcoming and threats of depletion, exploitation and impoverishment of natural
resources. There must be effective regulation of medicinal plant cultivation against
commercialisation and unsustainable practices. Also institutional coordination to
promote in situ and ex situ conservation would go a long way in addressing depletion of medicinal resources. Besides, research to understand the relationship between
household income and market potential of medicinal plants will help to promote sustainable conservation practices and enhance their contribution to the local people’s
lievelihood.
References
Alok SK (1991) Medicinal plants in India: approaches to exploitation and conservation. In: Akerele
O, Heywood V, Synge H (eds) Conservation of medicinal plants. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge
Banerji G, Basu S (2011) Sustainable management of the herbal wealth of the Himalayas: prioritising biodiversity for conservation and development. Access from: (https://www.pragya.org/doc/
Pragya_Herbal-Wealth.pdf)
Batugal PA, Kanniah J, Young LS, Oliver JT (eds) (2004) Medicinal plants research in Asia, vol 1:
the framework and project workplans. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute—Regional
Office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania (IPGRI-APO), Serdang, Selangor DE, Malaysia
Belt J, Lengkeek A, van der Zant J (2003) Cultivating a healthy enterprise developing a sustainable
medicinal plant chain in Uttaranchal—India. Bulletin 350, Royal Tropical Institute, Netherlands
Bera SK (2010) Globalisation and sustainable exports of Indian medicinal and aromatic plants: a protection study. MPRA Paper No. 28908. Accessed from: Online at http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.
de/28908/