Local knowledge in community-based approaches to medicinal plant conservation: lessons from India

Shailesh Shukla,James Gardner

doi:10.1186/1746-4269-2-20

Shailesh Shukla, James Gardner

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-2-20

Copy DOI

Abstract

BackgroundCommunity-based approaches to conservation of natural resources, in particular medicinal plants, have attracted attention of governments, non governmental organizations and international funding agencies. This paper highlights the community-based approaches used by an Indian NGO, the Rural Communes Medicinal Plant Conservation Centre (RCMPCC). The RCMPCC recognized and legitimized the role of local medicinal knowledge along with other knowledge systems to a wider audience, i.e. higher levels of government.MethodsBesides a review of relevant literature, the research used a variety of qualitative techniques, such as semi-structured, in-depth interviews and participant observations in one of the project sites of RCMPCC.ResultsThe review of local medicinal plant knowledge systems reveals that even though medicinal plants and associated knowledge systems (particularly local knowledge) are gaining wider recognition at the global level, the efforts to recognize and promote the un-codified folk systems of medicinal knowledge are still inadequate. In country like India, such neglect is evident through the lack of legal recognition and supporting policies. On the other hand, community-based approaches like local healers' workshops or village biologist programs implemented by RCMPCC are useful in combining both local (folk and codified) and formal systems of medicine.ConclusionDespite the high reliance on the local medicinal knowledge systems for health needs in India, the formal policies and national support structures are inadequate for traditional systems of medicine and almost absent for folk medicine. On the other hand, NGOs like the RCMPCC have demonstrated that community-based and local approaches such as local healer's workshops and village biologist program can synergistically forge linkages between local knowledge with the formal sciences (in this case botany and ecology) and generate positive impacts at various levels.

Highlights

Community-based approaches to conservation of natural resources, in particular medicinal plants, have attracted attention of governments, non governmental organizations and international funding agencies
This section describes and analyzes two community-based approaches undertaken by Rural Communes Medicinal Plant Conservation Centre (RCMPCC), which combine both local and formal systems of medicine to demonstrate that such creative integration at the local level can generate positive impacts at all levels
Building on medicinal plant knowledge of local healers: the RCMPCC way The RCMPCC initiative was envisioned by a Mumbaibased NGO, called Rural Commune for the In-Situ Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of the Medicinal Plant Diversity of Maharashtra, through developing partnerships among the Forest Department, local communities and NGOs

Summary

Introduction

Community-based approaches to conservation of natural resources, in particular medicinal plants, have attracted attention of governments, non governmental organizations and international funding agencies. This paper highlights the community-based approaches used by an Indian NGO, the Rural Communes Medicinal Plant Conservation Centre (RCMPCC). Purpose and objectives of the research The contribution of local knowledge systems in conservation and sustainable use of natural resources is gaining wider recognition [1]. Local knowledge associated with the use and conservation of medicinal plants is either codified in ancient scriptures or is folk-based and transmitted through generations in the form of community-based health traditions. No budgetary allocation, on the contrary vulnerable to Legal status as 'Indian Systems of Medicine' with five percent of disregard and devaluation budgetary allocation (health) wider social and official acceptance and recognition. Originated in communities to meet daily healthcare/survival needs, Originated by scholars, physicians and seers and documented in largely undocumented manuscripts/Vedic texts(1000–1500 BC), scriptures for human wellbeing and developed as a classified main branches

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion