Medicinal plant data to be compiled

The Karnataka Medicinal Plants Authority (KMPA), along with students from various district forestry colleges, will soon compile a detailed database of medicinal plants in the Western Ghat regions of Karnataka.

The objective of this exercise is to ensure sustainable development of forest resources, especially medicinal plants. “Conservation can be done only when we know what we have,” said U V Singh, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, KMPA.

Also, many a time endangered medicinal plants are transported by road, rail and air to other states and nations in the guise of herbs and kitchen garden plants. Despite environmental laws banning transportation, it is happening due to lack of awareness on plants, he asserted.

This is the first such database being created in India. Data collection began in the first week of January and it is expected to be completed in six months. Data will be collected from every beat of the forest. There are over 2,000 beats across forests in Karnataka.

The survey has been completed in Honnavar and Virajpet with the help of 90 students of Ponnampet Fore­stry College and 60 students of Sirsi Forestry College.

As many as 60 species of medicinal plants have been documented in Honnavar alone. This includes some extinct species such as Madhuca borderline and Madhuca insignis, termed extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Ironically, 13 trees of the two species have been identified in Honnavar alone. Some critically endangered species have also been found here, Singh added. Study is also going on at Haliyal and Karwar.

Forest department watchers and deputy range forest officers are also being involved. To motivate students and staff working on this project, financial incentives and honorariums are being offered.

Those involved in the project are being trained to identify medicinal plants and safety measures to be taken on the field. The field survey is carried out for three days and findings are documented. The compiled report will be shared with the State and Central government.