1. Rukararwe Partnership Workshop for Rural Development Conservation of Rare Medicinal Trees: Experiences from Rukararwe of in South Western Uganda Nyine Bitahwa, RUKARARWE PWRD, Uganda Anke Weisheit, ICRAF/ Mbarara University, Uganda

2. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi Uganda Rukararwe PWRD Rukararwe Partnership Workshop for Rural Development (RPWRD) FARMERS ARTISANS WEAK YOUTH HEALERS SHOOLS WOMEN RPWRD was established in 1986, and, among several other activities, it promotes the use of traditional medicine and conserves the environment.

3. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi Uganda TRADITIONAL HEALERS  The project established an association of traditional and western-trained healers since 1988.  Currently, the association is composed of 170 healers.  It operates a clinic on a daily basis where herbal remedies are administered to patients.  About 2.400 patients per year are treated.  The association holds 15-20 seminars per year and refresher courses to healers which include traditional birth attendants, simple methods of hygiene, preservation dissemination and recording of herbal medicine

4. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi Uganda Collaboration RPWRD with ICRAF  Collaboration since 2003  Ethics: contract of confidentiality with scientist (Anke Weisheit)  Worked in collaboration Domestication of woody medicinal species Trainings for herbalists Improvement of herbal remedies Documentation Documentation of Traditional Healing practice

5. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi Uganda Rehabilitation of LOST forest  The institution will strengthen conservation and documentation initiatives BeforeAfter 15 years

6. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi UgandaPropagation  Germplasm collection with healers  Generative Propagation trials  Vegetative propagation trials  Production of tree seedlings

7. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi Uganda Herbal Garden Establishment For experiments and demonstrations Trimming experiment (like tea trees) for maximum leaf harvest Plant SpeciesNumber Aloe vera 682 Vernonia amygdalina 663 Sesbania sesban 80 Moringa oleifera 39 Spathodea campanulata 61 Eriobotrya japonica 50 Aloe Sesbania Vernonia

8. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi UgandaTraining  Propagation and tree nursery management  Sustainable harvest and handling  Documentation  Processing

9. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi Uganda Herbal Medicine Processing  Reduction of processing loss  Slightly improved processing  Constrains: Production not GMP conform Hard working condition Difficulties of exact measuring Cosmetic Processing Herbal Medicine Dryer GMP = Good Manufacturing Practice

10. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi Uganda Herbal Medicine Improvement  Better Packing  More patient friendly  Better measurement of dosage  Saver use (Color coding)  Moving from polythene bag to film tube… to cream jar March 2003August 2003June 2004January 2005 Future

11. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi Uganda Prunus africana as firewood and charcoal!!!

12. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi Uganda Alternative housing technologies

13. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi UgandaSuccesses  Enlarging the existing herbal forest (130 trees species planted)  Conservation through aforestation is possible  Collaboration with western and African traditional health practitioners possible  Exposure of good practice of traditional healing  Networking countrywide and international recognition  Publication – Tropical Doctor and local Newspapers

14. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi Uganda New Product Development  Rucos Herbal Skin Care is made of natural locally available raw materials  Contain only natural ingredients  No artificial preservatives  Use only locally / national available materials  Constrains Preservation for longer shelf life Marketing costs and strategies Initial production funding More diversity in products

15. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi Uganda Activities in Future  The Institution will establish relevant seminars, workshops and short courses on topics of interest. This will be open for everyone interested.  A curriculum will be developed for the institution to offer diplomas and degrees at different levels.  Traditional medicine will be a recognized system which will adequately contribute to the country’s Primary Health Care system

16. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi Uganda Activities in Future cont.  Set-up processing unit which is GMP conform  Mobilising outgrowing of needed medicinal species and training farmers in the cultivation  Improvement in post harvest handling  Clinical Trials (WHO Guideline for Traditional Medicines)  Alternative housing technologies which can improve the health conditions, save the environment and affordable

17. RPWRD Bushenyi & ICRAF UGANDA Bushenyi UgandaChallenges  Present legislation does not recognize TM  Fundraising will be a major challenge.  Widespread stigmatization of Traditional medicine  Lack of interest from funding agencies  Lack of good processing equipment Future training needed in nursery management Future In-patient clinic

18. Rukararwe Partnership Workshop for Rural Development Contacts: Nyine Bitahwa (Director) Rukararwe Partnership Workshop for Rural Development (RPWRD) P.O. Box 275 Bushenyi Uganda Mob: +256-772-339953 email: nyinebitahwa@yahoo.com Web: www.rukararwe.kabissa.org Anke Weisheit, ICRAF- Uganda, P.O. Box 26416, Kampela, Uganda Mbarara University, Faculty of Dev. Std, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara Uganda Mob: +256-772-888096 email: ankeweisheit@web.de Web: http://www.worldagroforestry.org