A FRAMEWORK FOR STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

MEDICINAL PLANTS :an overview Number of MPs species used medicinally: 35,000 to 70,000 worldwide Leading exporting countries: China >India > Germany( china & India major producers, > 40% of global bio-diversity. International market of herbal products = $ 62 billion( India's share in global export = 0.5 %) In India, herbal sector turnover = Rs. 4200 cr./annum, with AGR of 20 – 30 %. India: 47,000 plant sps. 15,000 MPs  > 1000 sps. Are under various degrees of threat As per latest IUCN list, 200 RED LISTED MPs sps. identified in India (critically endangered- endangered-vulnerable-lower risk-data deficient) Contd.

Threat from: destructive harvesting practices & over exploitation, habitat lost & fragmentation, introduction of exotic sps. Caretakers : FRLHT, Bangalore; National Medicinal Plants Board (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GOI); Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata. {Source: D N Tewari, Planning commissions report of the task force on medicinal plants }

MEDICINAL PLANTS: a sample list Latin name Common name Prescribed for Andrographis paniculata Kalmegh Fever, malaria, jaundice; useful in increasing appetite and reducing anemia Aconitum heterophyllum Ativisha Fever; also works as an aphrodisiac Bacopa monnieri Brahmi Enhancing memory Commiphora wightii Guggul Reducing obesity; arthritis Gymnema sylvestre Gurmar Treating diabetes Nardostachys grandiflora Jatamansi Epilepsy, hysteria and mental disorders Picrorhiza kurroa Kutki Liver and spleen problems Saraca asoca Ashoka Stopping internal bleeding Swerita chirata Chirata Increasing appetite Withania somnifera Ashwagandha Geriatric problems; reducing stress {SOURCE: Tewari report, www.downtoearth.org.in }

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF TMPs in TAMIL NADU: A STUDY BY MANOJ SARCAR No institutionalized mechanism for study of TMPs, their notification, or regulation of wild harvest. Little or no literature available about threat position of MPs, forest department- priority for wild fauna over wild flora Need for a comprehensive policy framework, enlarging existing legal provisions. Major policy gaps: resource conservation & augmentation, promotion of ISM, organization of transparent trade of MPs. Areas of study: Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) & the forests of Tamil Nadu.

Stake Holders Of MPs At Various Levels Custodian Local Users Medical Traders/ Research & NGOs/ voluntary Practitioner Manufactures Edu. Inst. organization Creating awareness among community & younger generation Reducing gap between public, policy makers & policy implementers Top Level Management Education about importance of MPs Identifying priority areas & policy formulation Enforcement & preparing manual/ guidelines for prescription plan Attitudinal change Using alternatives Tissue culture DNA study Patenting Propagation Sustainable harvesting, Kitchen herbal garden, Use of substitute Middle Level Managers Field level planners Management plan review Financial disbursement Field Staff (Low Level Mgnt.) Identifying sps. in field Inventory of plant resources Forensic lab test Training of in-situ & ex-situ conservation of MPs.

POLICY RECOMMENDATION Recommendations For The Country/State/Any Unit Area ( including KMTR) Species specific recommendations for select MPs based on the threat status Formulation of Policy Consisting MPs resource survey & inventorisation (staff training, building database) Strategic issues (identification, preparation, threat assessment, recovery plan) Technological issues (biochemical technology, in-situ & ex-situ propagation) Training and capacity building ( HRD) Operational working plan Budget and resource allocation. Additional Legal Provisions to be included in Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002 Biological Diversity act, 2002 Conservation development model Short listing of TMPs Areas of Future Research Market networks, pricing trends Propagation techniques Local community management Sustainable harvesting of MPs Stakeholder mapping Survey Analysis Recommendations

BENEFIT SHARING ARRANGEMENT: KANI TRIBES Controversies: Bio-prospecting Initiatives Vs Bio-piracy BSA between The Tropical Botanical Garden & Research Institute (TBGRI) & the Kani Tribe of Kerala{ a part of the sales of drug developed out of a herb arogya paccha is going to the trust run by the Kanis} Question arises: How ? Who ? Unverified claims ? Control and allocation ? Commercialization Vs wholesome & substantial community benefits IPRs/Controversial patents

REFERENCES A Framework for Strategic Management of MPs( IIMB Management Review, Dec 2005), Manoj Kr. Sarcar Conserving a community resource: medicinal plants, Darshan Shankar. Kothari et al. www.frlht.org.in http://indianmedicine.nic.in http://nmpb.nic.in/ www.downtoearth.org.in

THANK YOU !! - PRAKASH KUMAR JHA (29) - SUMIT GUPTA (54)