Background:

India has one of the richest plant based medical traditions in the world. This is reflected in the diversity of natural resources used for healthcare across the country and an equally diverse treatments and formulations. About 8000 different medicinal plants are in use across the country for various primary healthcare needs. Similarly various time tested and very effective formulations are used here for different healthcare needs. In the present Indian society, these medicinal plants show an enormous potential to extend healthcare and livelihood security to the rural communities.

It is estimated that nearly 80% of the medicinal plant species are found in the forests and are therefore bound to be collected from wild habitats. However, of late, availability of these medicinal plants is affected seriously due to several factors. Endemic distribution, Degradation and fragmentation of wild habitats, destructive methods of harvesting, problems with the regeneration of species, other physiological difficulties with the species- have all affected the availability and the wild populations of several medicinal plants. The threat assessments conducted as per the latest IUCN guidelines have so far identified around 350 medicinal plant species under different threat categories. These assessments on a larger canvas have also indicated that about 10% of all the plant species are facing threats. This alarming situation therefore requires an urgent need for strategic conservation action. Conservation of the medicinal plants diversity thus becomes a priority field in the context of ever growing demand for natural medicines worldwide.

FRLHT has in the last 12 years, organized about 200 need based training courses for the Foresters, NGO managers, Conservationists on many subjects related to Conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants. About 3000 forest officers and 500 representatives of different NGOs trained so far by FRLHT through these training programmes stand testimony to the quality training offered by the organization. FRLHT, through its decade long project of Medicinal plants conservation in south India has also accrued quality field experience and built up an inhouse team of resource persons.

The present training program is designed to build capacity among other stakeholders involved in this sector such as Forest Officers, University departments, NGOs, etc to take up Conservation action.

Objectives:

Objectives of this training course are:

. To prepare the participants to understand the national and international mandates related to biodiversity particularly medicinal plants.

. To make the participants know and appreciate the significance of medicinal plants and need for their conservation.

. To orient the participants to the skills and field activities involved in the conservation of medicinal plants.

. To provide an on-field exposure and understanding regarding models of conservation and sustainable utilization.

Course contents:

. Introduction to medicinal plants and related traditional knowledge.

. Significance of medicinal plants for healthcare and livelihood security.

. Threats to medicinal plants and their mitigation.

. Models for conservation of medicinal plants.

. Trade and marketing of medicinal plants.

Training methodology and pedagogy:

. Multimedia learning sessions on different topics followed by discussions

. Demonstration.

. Group discussions.

. Expert consultation.

. Assignments.

Who can attend?

. Middle level officers of the state forest departments (DCFs, ACFs, Range Forest Officers).

. Faculty members from University Departments of Biology/ Botany/ Taxonomy/ Environmental Sciences/ Biosciences/ Anthropology/ Forestry.

. NGOs working in the field of Environment/ Forests/ Wildlife and other Natural resource management fields.

Duration and venue of the programme:

4 days at Bangalore .

Dates: 14 th - 17 th November 2006.

Registration and Course fee:

Fee for the course will be Rs.6000 per person, which includes the cost of course material, stationary, lodging and boarding. A total of 30 seats are available and the registration is on a "first come first serve" basis.

Institutional nominations will be preferred.

Forward your nominations to the following.

G.A. Kinhal, IFS

Joint Director,

Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions,

74/2, Jarakbande Kaval,

Attur Post, Via Yelahanka,

Bangalore 560 064.

Tel. 080-28568006.

E-mail: ga.kinhal@frlht.org


B S Somashekhar

Senior Program Officer (Training)

Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions,

74/2, Jarakbande Kaval,

Attur Post, Via Yelahanka,

Bangalore 560 064.

Tel. 080-28565890.

E-mail: bs.somashekhar@frlht.org