Volume 17, Number 4 Article by Manoj Kumar Sarcar December, 2005
A Framework for Strategic Management of Medicinal Plants :
India is one of twelve countries in the world with mega-biodiversity areas. Of its estimated 45,000 plant species, over a sixth have medicinal value. India is also one of the world’s leading exporters of medicinal plants (MPs), second only to China. With over 50,000 herbal formulations, an industrial turnover of Rs. 4200 crores per annum, and a projected annual growth rate of 20-30%, the MP related health sector is poised to take off. Despite its advantageous position, however, its share of the US$62 billion global market is less than half a percent.
The reasons for this situation are not far to seek. More than 85% of MPs used by Indian industry is collected from the wild. Although trade in MPs has doubled since globalisation, it is completely controlled by the informal sector with large traders operating from port towns. The Forest Department has no material stake in the trade, either in terms of revenue, or even in terms of surveillance of what is exported from the forest areas. The increase in illegal trading has led to destructive harvesting practices and over exploitation, putting more than 1000 species of MPs under threat. If steps are not taken to correct the faults in the system, there is a risk of great economic, cultural, environmental and genetic loss to the country. The protection and management of natural resources need support of various kinds – effective regulations, institutional mechanism and strong legislative support, as well as the participation of all stakeholders. Systematic short term and long term planning are necessary. Manoj Sarcar proposes a policy framework with strategies for conservation and sustainable utilisation of medicinal plants, and makes recommendations for enlarging the existing legal provisions of conservation to include threatened medicinal plants. He also provides a conservation development model for prioritising the management prescriptions for MPs.
Reprint No 05401
