IUCN The World Conservation Union Conserving Medicinal Species Securing a Healthy Future Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group. Asia Conserving Medicinal Species Securing a Healthy Future Edited by Sriyanie Miththapala The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this book do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN. Published by: Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group, Asia Asian Regional Office The World Conservation Union (IUCN). IUCN The World Conservation Union Copyright: © 2006, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Example of citation: Kumar, P. (2006). The Economics of Medicinal Plants: Are High Commercial Values Enough to Ensure Biodiversity Conservation?. Pp 9 -15 in Conserving Medicinal Species: securing a healthy future. Miththapala, S. (ed) IUCN: Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group, Asia 184 pp ISBN: 955-8177-41-5 Cover photograph: Medicinal plants for sale at the Bangalore market Photo credit: Anna Lawrence Produced by: Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group, Asia The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Artwork and layout Global Catch (Design Studio) Printed by: Gunaratne Offset Available from: Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group, Asia 53, Horton Place. Colombo 7, Sri Lanka. Tel:+94 11 2694094 Ext 403 Contents Preface v Danna Leaman and Teresa Mulliken Acknowledgements vii Introduction Medicines from Natural Sources: How Human Health Depends Photo credit: Susan Earle on Nature Eric Chivian* 1 Musk Deer The Value of Medicinal Species The Economics of Medicinal Plants: Are High Commercial Values Enough to Ensure Biodiversity Conservation? A perspective Pushpam Kumar* 9 The Risks from the Loss of Medicinal Species Risks to People of Losing Medicinal Species Jeffrey A McNeely* 17 The Risks of the loss of Medicinal Plants for Livelihood and Health Security in South Asia Vinay Tandon* 32 Rainforests for Health H. Van Wilgenburg* 40 The Threats to Medicinal Species Threats to Medicinal Plant Species - an African Perspective Patrick Maundu, Peris Kariuki and Oscar Eyog-Matig* 47 The Use of Marine Organisms in Traditional and Allopathic Medicine Bob Hunt and Amanda C.J. Vincent* 64 An introduction to the trade in wild species used for medicinal purposes Sriyanie Miththapala* 78 Conservation of medicinal species: detection Bear Detection Kits: A Forensic System for Controlling Illegal Trade in Bear Parts and Derivatives Kate Sanders and Ross McEwing* 89 These papers were presented at a Global Synthesis Workshop 'Biodiversity Loss and Species Extinctions: Managing Risk in a Changing World', convened Photo credit: CEMDE, Delhi University at IUCN World Conservation Forum 18-20 November 2004, Bangkok, Thailand. Mecanopsis aculeata iii Conservation of medicinal species: sustainable use Community-driven Medicinal Plants Conservation: Wise Practices from South Asia Madhav Karki* 95 Biodiversity from the Centre of the World: Medicinal Plant Conservation through Sustainable Use: the Case of the Natural Ingredients Sector of Initiative of Ecuador Giovanni Ginatta Higgins* 104 7 Conservation of Medicinal Plants: Experiences from Sri Lanka Photo credit: L.Jaramillo c., Biocomercio/CORPEI Ranjith Mahindapala Women members of Jambi Kiwi Lessons Learned in Community Participation and Joint Forest Management: the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plants Project in Sri Lanka Ju-Han Zoe Wang 129 Documentation of Indigenous Knowledge in the Nilgiri Hills of India Kunal Sharma and Samita Vasudevan 135 The Future of Medicinal Species Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Practice Standards and Performance Criteria Frank Klingenstein, Vogtmann, Susanne Honnef, Danna teaman* 141 Sustainable Conservation of Medicinal Plant Species: experience from the Kumaon Himalayas Sonali Bisht 145 A Methodological Template for Participatory Planning and Designing for Sustainable Harvesting of Medicinal plants Giridhar A Kinhal, Jagannatha Rao R and Anna Lawrence 147 Gender Mainstreaming in Medicinal Species Conservation: a Case Study from the Hills of Uttaranchal in India Ratna Singh and Ravi Pacholi 158 The Future of Medicinal Biodiversity Jeffrey A. McNeely and Sue Mainka 165 Index of authors 178 Index of photocredits 180 * These papers were presented at a Global Synthesis Workshop 'Biodiversity Loss and Species Extinctions: Managing Risk in a Changing World', convened Photo credit: Sarah Gilbert Asparagus racemosus tubers at IUCN World Conservation Forum 18-20 November 2004, Bangkok, Thailand. iv Preface Wild species - particularly plant species - are used for medicine in almost every country in the world. A recent survey of published medicinal floras conducted by members of the Medicinal Plant Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) suggests that 72,000 species of higher plants are used medicinally worldwide, approximately 17% of the world's higher plant flora. This figure does not include the many species of terrestrial and marine animals, lower plants, and fungi that are also used medicinally by people from many different cultures. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated previously that 80% of the world's population relied on primary health care based on traditional medicines, and there is every indication that this remains true today. There is also an increasing reliance of the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries on wild biodiversity as a source of raw materials for research, development, and commercial production. In recognition of the importance of medicinal plants and other components of biodiversity to human welfare, the World Conservation Union convened a Global Synthesis Workshop on 'Biodiversity loss and species extinctions: managing risk in a changing world', in November 2004 at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, Bangkok Thailand. As one of its themes, the Global Synthesis Workshop recognised the importance of the wild species that are the source of many of the medicines used in the world today, and that will continue to be required by humankind in the future. The theme of one of the workshop sessions 'Conserving Medicinal Species: securing a healthy future' - invited speakers and participants to consider the great number and diversity of plant and animal species which have importance for human medicine. Many of the chapters included in this book, 'Conserving Medicinal Species: Securing a Healthy Future' published by the World Conservation Union, were based on presentations made to this workshop session. Others were solicited following the workshop to help draw attention to additional information and views on the use and trade of medicinal species. These latter papers were reviewed by IUCN Asia Regional Office staff prior to their inclusion in the publication. The papers reflect the wide range of experience, knowledge and opinions of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Union. Photo credit: (c) G. de Silva/Hunas Falls Hotel Catharanthus rosea V This first section of this volume focuses on the value of medicinal species and explores the links between medicinal species, human health and livelihoods. Collecting, harvesting, trading, and processing plant and animal-based materials for medicines support long and complex networks of people who rely on these resources and activities for much of their livelihoods - from primary harvesters and traditional healers to multinational pharmaceutical companies. The global trade in medicinal plants has now grown to well over 800 million USD per year. African and Asian countries, for example, export about 400,000 tonnes of medicinal plants to Europe each year, with a final market value of over 1 billion USD. World sales of over-the-counter plant derived drugs are worth more than 40 USD billion each year. In many countries, economic output and growth from the household to global level arguably depends on a healthy and productive workforce with access to adequate medical support and services. The second section of this volume addresses the risks to human health and livelihood security associated with the loss of medicinal species from several perspectives: a current global overview, a regional assessment, and a look toward the future at emerging threats to human health. The third section focuses on the substantial and growing threats to the survival of medicinal species worldwide. Both in spite of and because of their substantial economic and health value, a growing number of medicinal species are becoming vulnerable, threatened or endangered. Some are already extinct. The depletion and loss of these resources not only undermines our current ability to prevent and treat illness, but also jeopardises future options to benefit from species and medical applications that have not yet been discovered, or to treat illnesses and diseases that we do not yet know. It also puts at risk the basic livelihoods and economic health of millions of people and businesses. The