Sociocultural conservation strategies of prioritized medicinal plants, their historical context and space for integration

Abstract

The conservation of medicinal plants must be an all-inclusive endeavor that factors in the contribution of all stakeholders, both formal and informal. This paper highlights the importance of sociocultural aspects in the conservation of medicinal plant sources and resources using both traditional and modern conservation strategies. Efficacious traditional conservation strategies that featured prominently in the study include cultural methods of preventing overharvesting, enforcing social and cultural taboos, totemism, rituals and norms. Modern conservation strategies are mainly in situ and ex situ refined with education and research. The paper underscores the application of both local and modern conservation approaches ensuring a multipronged measure to have a sustainable traditional medicine trade and practice alongside market expansion. There is need for a well-structured harmonization of both traditional and modern conservation strategies for a holistic conservation of medicinal plant species.   Key words: Conservation, medicinal plants, sociocultural aspects, harmonization.