'Implement sustainable practices for medicinal plants trade'

Asserting that medicinal and aromatic plants in India are threatened due to overharvesting, a section of experts today called for implementing sustainable practices for its trade.
NGO Traffic in collaboration with WWF, FairWild, Applied Environmental Research Foundation - AERF India, Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF) and the Federation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Stakeholders (FEDMAPS) today held a one-day consultative workshop on sustainable trade, standards and certification schemes for medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in the country.
Traffic India said that in the country, the majority of MAP species collected from the wild are threatened locally and globally mainly due to overharvesting as a consequence of trade.

"MAP trade chains are complex, involving numerous entities such as collectors or farmers, middlemen, wholesalers, retailers, pharmaceutical companies and others. Stakeholder groups at various levels need technical support to manage MAP resources sustainably and increase income to collectors," a Traffic India statement quoted Ajit M Sharan, Secretary Ministry of AYUSH, as saying.
IG (Wildlife) in the Environment Ministry S K Khanduri said the pattern of use of medicinal plants has changed and evolved over the years and it is important to recognise this trend.
"It is important to bring to MAPs the same level of importance that is attached to timber in forest management. Consultations such as this one form an important part in understanding the various issues involved in the MAPs trade in and from India across the range of stakeholders," he said.

WWF India CEO Ravi Singh said the regulation of MAPs trade is vital for conserving the variety of medicinal plant species that are the bedrock of many livelihoods and form an important part of the health sector in India.