Title : Medicinal and aromatic plants in the last two decades in Gandaki province, Nepal
Abstract:
Gandaki Province is renowned for its rich biodiversity, particularly for the abundance of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). The province’s varied topography, ranging from tropical lowlands to alpine highlands provides ideal habitats for a flourishing these plants. The province also has a long history of medicinal plant conservation, use, barter and trade. We evaluated the status, domestic use, trade and conservation measures of MAPs in the Province. Group discussions, farmer's interview, field visits to key medicinal plant pocket areas and consultations with the officers of Division Forest Offices (DFO) and Ministry of Forest and Environment of the province. Traditional healers and commercial MAPs cultivators were also met for additional data and information. Consultations with DFOs helped collect the authoritative data of cultivation, conservation and trade of MAPs of the province of the period 2014-2023. We reviewed earlier publication and analysed the trade value of the MAPs of the last two decades from 2000 to 2023. The study identified 205 medicinal plant species, among which 173 are utilized, with 70 were common in trade records. Among these, 60 species were conserved through both government and community level seedling production and cultivation. Seedlings of Zanthoxylum armatum, Terminalia bellirica, Phyllanthus emblica, Asparagus racemosus and Cinnamomomum tamala were extensively produced and cultivated in mid-hills. Species Paris polyphylla, Zanthoxylum armatum, Taxus species and Swertia chirayita are promoted to grow in MAPs pocket areas. Other high altitude MAPs such as Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora, Nardostachys jatamansi, and Dactylorhiza hatagirea, hold significant market potential. The majority of these plants are harvested from wild, yet the commercial cultivation and pocket area conservation measures are underway. The demand of these MAPs is particularly high given the therapeutic potential of these MAPs is very high. DFOs, along with private farms and community-based forest user groups have invested in producing and planting about 350000 MAP and NTFP seedlings in a year. These initiatives not only supports sustain the production but also aid sustainable harvesting and marketing. Expanding cultivation and conservation programs and implementing market, value addition and enterprise approached management curb the challenges and threats associated with MAPs development.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Conservation, Medicinal Plants, Overexploitation
