This in-situ conservation initiative has resulted in the setting up of a network of 55 Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas (MPCA) across different forest types and altitude zones in these five states of peninsular India . A significant feature of this medicinal plant conservation program has been conservation-with-community-participation. The most important purpose of this network of MPCAs is that it serves as the gene bank of medicinal plant resources of the region.
The network of MPCAs captures the inter and intra specific medicinal plant diversity of peninsular India .

The criteria for the selection of the 54 Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas are:

• Representation of forest types of the region
• Areas traditionally well known for medicinal plant wealth
• Areas with known high level of endemism
• Areas located across the altitude range
• Sites that are accessible for long-term study

The MPCAs capture around 2000 medicinal plant species, which represent 50% of the medicinal plant diversity of the five states, and significantly includes over 75% of the RED Listed Species of these states. For all the MPCA sites, detailed floristic studies on medicinal plant diversity including the threatened, traded and endemic plants have been undertaken.

Key role of local communities

Forest departments engage with local communities for the protection and management of MPCAs and various kinds of community benefit activities have been introduced. These activities include Outreach Nursery, Conservation Education, Health Education & Income generation, JFMorientedmedicinalplantsprogramindegradedforests, Community gardens in districts, talukas and towns via local institutions, Propagation techniques and Community registers

The botanical and ecological surveys of the vegetation across different forest types and geographical regions form an essential input to our efforts for the cataloguing of native medicinal plant species. Along with their demographic structure and associated ecological parameters, these surveys help in the understanding of distribution and its pattern for native medicinal plant species, particularly those of conservation concern. This in turn provides guidance for an informed conservation action programme.

In order to develop focused conservation action, the native medicinal plant species need to be prioritized based on the level of trade, parts used, endemism / restricted distribution, reported rarity, rapid decline etc. A unique and pioneering effort has been initiated since 1995, to undertake systematic and rapid assessments of the threat status of the prioritized native medicinal plant species. Such assessments allot appropriate Red List status to the species assessed, following the guidelines of IUCN Red List criteria and categories.

Species Recovery research is being conducted to save some important Red Listed species. This research is undertaken in collaboration with the State Forest departments and Research Institutes (see box below) & local communities. For 45 red listed medicinal species sampling plots have been laid out, spatial distribution maps generated, population estimates made, and density maps obtained. Studies on pupulation structure, population dynamics, vegetative and reproductive biology, intrinsic and extrinsic causes of species decline and development of propagation methods for selected red listed species are currently being carried out. The species include Endemics and Non Endemics, which are facing varying degrees of threat. Examples of critically endangered and highly traded species being researched are Coscinium fenestratum (know as Mara Manjal or Daru haridra) and Myristica dactyloides.

This study aims to experiment with a participatory adaptive management methodology for sustainable harvest of specific medicinal plants from the wild. Through participatory action, this study will establish processes for sustainable harvesting of medicinal plants. By establishing a methodology to determine sustainable harvest levels for medicinal plants and other NTFPs (based on the traditional practices and scientific knowledge), communities will be empowered to manage their resources in a more sustainable manner. Methodologies will be disseminated nationally. Local communities and forest departments are key partners. The expected outcomes include monitoring and recording system and a methodology manual for sustainable wild harvest.