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| Kathmandu, Saturday December 21, 2002 Paush 06, 2059. |
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Regional workshop on medicinal
plants concludes
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Dec 20:The regional workshop on
"Himalayan Medicinal and Aromatic Plants" concluded here on Friday recommending
to set up a regional working group for "Wise Practices on Himalayan Medicinal
Plants." The workshop also underlined the need to improve regional co-operation to
meet the objectives.
The five-day-long workshop of scientists,
conservationists, government officials and representatives of other institutions from
Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China have also recommended for the
inclusion of knowledge on traditional medicinal practices and medicinal plants in the
present medical education curriculum.
Besides the role of industries, NGOs have also
been recognised in the conservation of medicinal plants in the Himalyan region of the
participant countries. The view was expressed at the conclusion of the workshop.
In the recommended Regional Working Group on
Wise, the chief of the working group will establish a national working group and promote
wise practices through networking.
Speaking at a press meet at the concluding
moment of the workshop, the participants expressed that any initiative to conserve and
promote medicinal plants should be linked with the livelihood of local people if they are
to be successful, focusing on regional co-operation.
"There should be a connection between
efforts on conservation of medicinal plants and livelihood to ensure success in the
conservation and promotion of the plants", said Dr. Chandra P. Gurung, the Country
Representative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal Programme.
The WWF is working with local communities in
Upper Dolpa to preserve and promote medicinal plants and knowledge of Amchis (traditional
doctors).
Medicinal plant expert Dr. Tirtha Bahadur
Shrestha underlined the need of regional co-operation for the processing of medicinal
plants in the country. He underscored the challenge of conserving traditional knowledge
and Amchis in the country.
Dr. Madhav Karki, Regional Programme
Co-ordinator of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in South Asia, was critical of inadequate
efforts put into practice to translate existing laws and policies in conserving medicinal
plants of the country, urging co-ordination among existing mechanism involved in
conservation of the plants.
Chief of Foreign Aid Branch at the Ministry of
Forest and Soil Conservation, Damodar Prasad Parajuli assured that the government would
take initiative to translate the recommendations of the workshop.
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