From Director`s Desk
Medicinal & aromatic plants (MAPs) have been a vital substrate for human health ever since the dawn of civilization. The Indian Sub-continent, particularly the state of Uttarakhand, has the distinction of sporting a wide range of faunal and floral diversity including rare and valuable MAPs, as also being the abode of the ancient health system of ‘Ayurveda’ that has been used to the benefit of mankind for more than 5000 years.
However, many once abundant species of MAPs, have suffered a serious decline due to an ever-expanding market fuelled by the needs of an exploding human and animal population, making them a topic of worldwide concern. The major reasons for the depletion of this important natural resource are uncertain tenurial regimes over land and plant resources, over collection of wild populations and un-sustainable management practices, in addition to other factors such as destruction, reduction and translation of habitat, competition by invasive weeds, pollution and climate change.
At present it is estimated that more than 90% of all the herbal raw material is a produce of collections from the wild. The responsible use of the natural resources to ensure their availability for the future is a major global concern and sustainable utilization of MAP populations is the most tenable strategy for conserving them. We can also not forget that a vigorous bio-diversity is essential to ensure a balanced hydrology and the consequent availability of fresh drinking water.
The total geographical area of this mountain state is approx 52000 km2 out of which 65% is classified as forest area, including 14% under protected area network. This Himalayan state offers a wide range of habitats extending from Sub-tropical to Temperate to Alpine and Cold Desert types of climate that sport more than 5000 species of vascular plants out of which 800 species have been used traditionally and are of known medicinal value. The physical and cultural environment here is highly conducive for the growth of MAPs.
The state govt of Uttarakhand has thus decided to adopt a policy that allows the extraction of medicinal plants from the wild only up to a sustainable extent and the promotion of large scale cultivation of MAPs to meet the growing demands of industries. It is visualized that such an eco-friendly policy shall ensure proper development and conservation while at the same time providing suitable opportunities of better economic returns to the local communities.
