Medicinal Plants Conservation Strategies for Primary-Healthcare and Livelihood at Local Level: An Examination of Initiatives in South Asia

Abstract

This chapter examines initiatives to conserve medicinal plants in Bangladesh and India. These initiatives formed part of development interventions seeking to improve livelihoods and primary healthcare services in poor rural communities. The intervention projects studied were carried out in two districts of Bangladesh and one in Odisha state, India. Case study and participatory field methods were adopted to gather data and information on the medicinal plants conservation components of those projects. The study found that the initiatives, which combine both healthcare and livelihood objectives, have been successful not only in conserving medicinal plant resources, but also promoting their status and use. As a result, threats to medicinal plant stocks are being redressed, better livelihoods are being created, and primary healthcare situations are being enhanced. This study also revealed that the most successful strategies for conserving medicinal plant species comprised of a mix of ex-situ, in-situ, and production system approaches.