The genetic diversity of medicinal plans is in danger as a result of climate change and overexploitation, reports an article on the Food Tank website.
More than 80 per cent of the world relies on medicinal plants and trees for their healthcare, but increasing demand and commercialization could cause extinction of some species and loss of genetic diversity.
“There is a need for a clear policy and strategy to conserve these variable resources without delay,” said Hiroyuki Konuma Assistant Director-General and U.N. Food and Agriculture (FAO) Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific.
A study by FAO and the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions features initiatives that are designed to improve and preserve medicinal and aromatic plants. For example, in Bangladesh, agroforestry systems are being used to preserve medicinal plants and improve peoples’ livelihoods. In Myanmar, the government has established herbal gardens in different regions of the country as well as nurseries specifically addressing major diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis, malaria, diarrhea and dysentery.
The study calls for greater investment in research and development of medicinal and aromatic species, specifically on genetic resource management, crop improvement, propagation methods, harvesting and processing techniques, germplasm collection, and post-harvest management.
Read the full story: Health of Medicinal Plants at Risk
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