R. K. Maikhuri , K. S. Rao , Kusum Chauhan , L. S. Kandari , P. Prasad , C. Rajasekaran

Abstract

Since times immemorial , plants have served mankind by providing food , shelter , medicine etc. In recent times the demand for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) has increased rapidly in the global market. Domestic sales are growing at a rate of 20% per annum , while the international market for herbal products is estimated to be growing 7% per annum. Due to rapidly increasing demand of MAPs , a number of species are known to have become rare , endangered , threatened and extinct. Every year thousands of tonnes of these plant resources are being exploited from the natural habitat either legally or illegally without fair benefits accruing to the local people. Indian Himalayan region is the storehouse for the MAPs , besides bearing the largest economic resource being tapped , but local communities get only a tiny fraction of the profits. It is historically a secretive trade and little is known about who collects , who trades , who profits and whether there is over-harvesting. It is established that the basic causes of unsustainable harvesting are ignorance , poverty and lack of alternative livelihood support systcms accompanied by encroachments by outsiders. Sustainable harvest with proper buy-back gaurantee will provide considerable off-farm employment opportunities to the local inhabitants. Traditional and local communities are the true resource managers with deciding roles in the conservation , management , use and development of MAPs in the Himalayan region. The conservation and management of MAPs in their natural habitat require active involvement of the local communities at every step. Therefore , effective training and capacity building focused on domestication/cultivation and conservation , improved marketing systems and processing/semi processing , bio-prospecting and value addition locally are the appropriate short and long term solution to assure conservation and management and sustainable livelihoods to the local communities.

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Meenakshi Bhardwaj , N. S. Chauhan , L. S. Kandari

Abstract

No Abstract

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A. K. Thakur ¹, L. S. Kandari ¹

Affiliations
1 School of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box # 138, Dire Dawa, ET

Abstract

In Ethiopia, forests play an important role in enhancing household livelihood of residing rural communities besides maintaining ecological balance. More than 50% of the bee colonies are active in the forest areas where different trees, shrubs and herbs are to be found growing, having variable flowering period thereby providing a source for five races of honeybees for collecting nectar and pollens. It is because of the presence of diversified trees that forests remain a source of assured honey when compared to crops in cultivated areas. Out of total 40 major trees present in the forest, seven of them like Erica arboreal, Eucalyptus spp, Euphorbis candelabrum, Diospyros mespeliformis, Piliostigma thonningii, Azadirachta indica and Dracaena afromontana are reported to be exclusively source of nectar. Trees like Schinus molle hold promise as a major source of pollen. Out of a total 30 herbs and shrubs, herbs plants like Bidens spp., Guizotia scabra, Hypoestes forskalii and Agave sisalana are assured source of nectar while four shrubs i.e. Hypericum revolutum, Plantago lanceola, Solanum nigrum and Rumex nervosus are abundant source of pollen to meet the protein requirements of honey bees.

Keywords

Aromatic Honey, Diversified Trees, Household Livelihood, Nectar, Pollen.

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