References Medicinal utilisation and BENOIST, J. (1995): La plante-médicament, entre ses conservation in the Small Island usages et ses témoins. – Ecologie humaine VIII(2) : 53-61. States of the SW - GSPM. (2011): Liste rouge des plantes vasculaires with particular emphasis on endémiques de . – IUCN SSC Madagas- car Specialist Group. MACFARLANE, J. & ALPERS, M. (2010): National Poli- Ameenah Gurib-Fakim cy for an Integrated Health System and Local Imple- mentation: the Case of Papua New Guinea and the Nasioi. – Human Organization 69(4): 387-398. Introduction MERAL, P. & REQUIER-DESJARDINS, D. (2006) : La Plants are known to be primary sources of all medi- gestion durable de l’environnement à Madagascar : cines in the world and continue to provide man- enjeux, opportunités et contraintes. – Économie rurale kind with new remedies. More than 80% of the 294-295: 4-8. Available at: http://economierurale.re- world’s population in the world still depend on vues.org/index891.html. traditional medicine for their primary health care MINISTERE DES EAUX ET FORETS. (1997): Décret n° 97-2000 portant adoption de la Politique forestière (WHO 1992). Natural products and their deriva- Malagasy du 2 octobre 1997. – Antananarivo, Jour- tives represent more than 50% of all drugs in clini- nal officiel de la République de Madagascar, p. 2324- cal use in the world (CRAGG & NEWMAN 2000). 2348. Higher plants contribute no less than 25% of the MONTAGNE, P. & RAMAMONJISOA, B. (2006) : Poli- total. Other drugs are derived from animals and tiques forestières à Madagascar entre répression et microorganisms. Therefore the possibilities for de- autonomie des acteurs. – Économie rurale 294-295: veloping new drugs from forest resources should 9-26. Available at : http://economierurale.revues.org/ feature in any calculation of their true worth. All index894.html the 119 plant-derived drugs used worldwide come RESOLVE. (2005): Evaluation et perspectives des trans- from fewer than 90 out of the 250,000 plant ferts de gestion des ressources naturelles dans le cadre du Programme Environnemental 3. – Antananarivo, that have been identified DE( SMET 1997) The po- Rapport final de synthèse, 55p. tential for discovering more new chemical entities REPUBLIQUE DE MADAGASCAR. (1987): Arrêté In- is there. terministériel n°2915/87 portant conduite de The flora of the South West Indian Ocean belongs l’exploitation des produits accessoires des forêts du 7 to one of the global hotspots. To this date only two septembre 1987. – Journal officiel de la République de internationally recognised medicinal plants have Madagascar, p. 2092-2098. emerged from this part of the world – the Mada- REPUBLIQUE DE MADAGASCAR. (1995): Madagascar: rapport de pays pour la conférence technique interna- gascan Catharanthus roseus and Centella asiatica. tionale de la FAO sur les ressources phytogénétiques Yet the potential for the discovery of new entities (Leipzig,1996). as well as standardised extracts is enormous. REPUBLIQUE DE MADAGASCAR. (1996): Loi n°96-025 This paper presents the general situation of the relative à la gestion locale des ressources naturelles medicinal plant resources and their regulation in renouvelables du 30 septembre 1996. the Small Islands States of the South-West Indian Julie Le Bigot • AVERTEM, Faculté des sciences Ocean with particular emphasis on Mauritius. pharmaceutiques et biologiques, Département de botanique • 3, rue du professeur Laguesse, 59000 Flora of the Small Island States of the Indian Lille, France • email: [email protected] Ocean The flora of the Comoros Islands, which are geo- graphically close to the African continent, tends to show greater affinity to that of the continent, whereas the floras of the Seychelles and the Mas- carenes (Mauritius, Reunion and Rodrigues) are highly specialised and rich in endemics.

Page 29 May 2012 Flora of the Comoros entity (ADJANOHOUN ET AL. 1983a, GUEHO 1988). The entire flora of the Comoros archipelago is es- Mauritius has 7 phanerogames, which are endemic, timated to contain some 2.000 species and a close while Reunion Island has 5 and Rodrigues has 3. examination reveals a high degree of endemism. With respect to the endemic species, Mauritius Taxa from the Comoros illustrating the affinity to has around 300 or 60-65% of the indigenous flo- the African flora are for example Alangium salvii- ra, while Rodrigues has around 50 or 55% of its folium ssp. salviifolium, Tabernaemontana coffe- flora. There are 671 species of indigenous flower- oides, Saba comoriensis, Combretum coccineum, ing plants recorded in Mauritius of which 311 are Cycas comoriensis, Phyllanthus comoriensis, Nux- endemic (Mauritius has 8 endemic plant genera) ia congesta, Tambourissa sp., Norhonia sp., Pep- and 150 are endemic to the Mascarene Archipela- eromia sp., Piper sp., Mimusops comoriensis, and go. Seventy-seven of these indigenous species are Weinmannia bojeriana. classified as extinct. Of the extant flowering plants ADJANOHOUN ET AL. (1982) identified 120 medici- about 35% are classified as threatened as per the nal plants, out of which 2 were endemic to the Co- IUCN criteria (BACHRAZ & TEZOO 1997). Recent moros: Tambourissa leptophylla and Helichrysum classifications have revealed the following: 141 sp. species are Critically endangered, 55 are Endan- gered, and 98 are Vulnerable. This recent estimate shows that at least 95 of the 141 Critically Endan- gered species have less than 50 known adults in the wild (FLORENS 2007). Figure 1 shows the histori- cal development in forest cover on Mauritius. Recent studies of lower plants have shown there to be about 207 taxa consisting of 89 genera of moss- es and 59 genera of hepatics (TIXIER and GUEHO 1997). There are about 200 species, subspecies and varieties of pteridophytes of which 13 species are endemic and 40 are extinct. Among the interesting indigenous species in Mauritius we find the fol- lowing: Diospyros tesselaria, Cassine orientale, Foetidia mauritiana, Stadmania oppositifolia, Ter- minalia bentzoe, Protium obtusifolium, Eugenia FIGURE 1. Native forest loss in Mauritius (1773-1997). fasciculate, sideroxyloides, Scutia myrtina amongst others. Flora of the Mascarenes [Mauritius, Rodrigues Rodrigues (Mru.) indigenous flora is also -char (Mru) and Reunion (Fr.)] acterised by a high degree of endemism. Accord- The are made up of three islands, ing to STRAHM (1989), the island has 36-38 taxa which have never been connected to the continental of endemic flowering plants but many of the in- mainland. The elements making up the indigenous digenous species have now become extremely rare flora have been introduced to the islands via ma- and are on the verge of extinction. Among them rine currents, trade and cyclonic winds, jet streams are Zanthoxylum paniculatum, Gouania legua- and marine and terrestrial birds during emigration. tii, Dombeya acutangula, Hibiscus liliiflorus and CADET (1977) presented the phytogeographical Antirhea bifurcata, which have all been reduced to analysis of the Mascarene Islands and reported that only a few individuals. Among the species, which 70% of the phanerogams come from Madagascar have been surveyed recently, and considered to be and the African continent, 8% are of oriental ori- more or less extinct are: Abrotanella rhynhocarpa, gin, 12% are of indopacific origin or cosmopolitan, Euphorbia daphnoides, Peperomia hirta, Syzygium while the remaining 10% are endemics. Phytogeo- balfourii amongst others. graphically, the Mascarenes can be considered an Reunion Island (Fr.) is the youngest of the is- Page 30 May 2012 lands of the Mascarenes. The island is entirely (1983a) identified 102 plants out of which 8 were volcanic and still has an active volcano claimed to indigenous to the Mascarene region (MAURITIUS & be 500,000 years old. The island is well placed to RODRIGUES). During a survey carried out between receive wind-borne seeds and has been colonised 1990-1994 (GURIB-FAKIM ET AL. 1995-1997), it partly by exotic plant materials. Nonetheless, the was found that reliable information is obtained island is still blessed with some interesting indige- mostly from persons aged 55 to 70 years, suggest- nous species like Foetidia mauritiana, Securinega ing a gradual erosion of the traditional knowledge. durissima, Cossigna pinnata, Cassine orientale Nonetheless, over 600 plants used medicinally amongst others. were collected and documented in the course of the study. More than 12% of the plants for which use Flora of the Seychelles was documented are endemic to the South West In- The Seychelles archipelago located to the North dian Ocean. East of Madagascar and discovered in the 17th century, encompass some forty islands and granitic It is also worth pointing out that local inhabitants islets. The flora is a model in itself because of its collect most of the medicinal plants from the for- high degree of specialisation and its rich diversity ests and that they often are unable to correctly iden- of highly endemic species. It has a few taxonomic tify them. Whilst forest collection is not legal, it is curiosities, for example Lodoicea maldivica which difficult for the authorities to control the collection is a unique endemic palm tree with a unique and of plants. Many of the used plants are becoming unusual shape growing in the Valley of May and extremely rare and whilst efforts are being made Praslin. It is the largest seed in the plant kingdom towards their safeguard, for some plants it may be and takes 7 years to ripen and germinate. The tree too little too late. There is always the underlying itself takes 25 years to reach the adult stage and fear that several species may become critically en- to produce flowers and seeds. The granitic island dangered due to over-collection. presents a real floristic refuge. The rocks and boul- It is interesting to note that whilst the Mauritian ders making up these islands are among the oldest population is made up of immigrants who have on this planet (650 millions years). The insularity of brought along with them their medicinal plants the surroundings is ancient and the flora and primi- when they landed in Mauritius almost 200 years tive vegetation have evolved in an isolated manner ago, quite a few endemic plants also form part of over hundreds of millions of years. The level of en- the local pharmacopoeia. Among these are: Termi- demism has been brought to the fore by the variety nalia bentzoe ssp. bentzoe, Psiadia arguta, Chas- and diversity in the flora and fauna. The more im- salia coriacea, Antirhea borbonica, Faujasiopsis portant endemic plant species include Aphloia thei- flexuosa, Carissa xylopicron, Cassine orientale, formis ssp. madagascariensis, Begonia seychel- Crinum mauritianum amongst others. lensis, Campnosperma seychellarum, Canthium seychellarum, Curculigo seychellensis, Diospyros Threats to the propagation of local biodiversity seychellarum, Erythroxylum sechellarum, Gynura With human settlements, many plants have been sechellensis, Mimusops seychellarum, Tarenna introduced intentionally as food crops, ornamen- sechellensis amongst others. Another floristic cu- tals, forest species and as medicines from many riosity is Medusagyne oppositifolia – the only rep- parts of the world. Others have been introduced in- resentative of the Medusagynaceae family, which advertently to the country and have become weeds. had previously been reported extinct (ADJANOHOUN Some had been introduced to control imported ET AL. 1983b). In the course of their survey AD- pests, only to become pests themselves, e.g, Ligus- JANOHOUN ET AL. (1983b) identified 76 plants out of trum robustum var walkerii. The latter was intro- which 7 are indigenous/endemic to the Seychelles. duced to outcompete the Thorny Bramble (Rubus alceifolius) in forest plantation. Several of the in- Status of medicinal plants utilisation in the Mas- troduced exotic plants, such as Chinese Guava carenes (Psidium cattleianum) and Poivre marron (Schinus The use of Medicinal plants is still relatively com- terebinthifolius) have become naturalised in the na- mon and growing. In 1983, ADJANOHOUN ET AL. tive forests. Over the years, they have displaced the Page 31 May 2012 Table 1. Status of medicinal plant utilisation in Mauritius.

Botanical names Family name Common name Cons. status1 Use, trade2

Carissa xylopicron Bois de ronde EN 1 borbonica Apocynaceae Bois de lait EN 1 Acanthophoenix Rubra Arecaceae Palmiste piquant EN 2 5 Sarcostemma viminale Asclepiadaceae Liane calé EN 2 Tylophora coriaceae “ Ipeca du pays EN 2 Psiadia arguta Asteraceae Baume du l’Ile Plate EN 2 Senecio lamarkianus “ Bois chevre EN 1 Ehretia petiolaris Boraginaceae Bois de pipe VU 1 Canarium paniculatum Burseraceae Bois colophane VU 1 Protium obtusifolium “ Bois colophane batard EN 1 Cassine orientale Celastraceae Bois d’olive VU 1 Grangeria borbonica Chrysobala-naceae Bois buis VU 1 Harungana madagascariensis Clusiaceae Bois harangue LC 3 Terminalia bentzoe Combretaceae Bois benjoin EN 3 Ipomoea pescaprae Comvolvulaceae Liane batatran LC 1 Agauria salicifolia Ericaceae Bois cabri VU 1 Erythroxylum laurifolium Bois ronde EN 3 Antidesma madagascariensis Euphorbiaceae Bois queue de rate VU 4 Phyllanthus lanceolata “ Bois dilo VU 1 Phyllanthus phyllyreifolius “ Bois dilo VU 1 Aphloia theiformis Flacourtiaceae Bois fandamane EN, EW(R) 1 Foetidia rodriguesensis Bois puant EN 1 Lomatophyllum lomatophylloides Liliaceae Ananas marron EN(R) 1 Bakerella hoyifolia Loranthaceae Bois fier CR(M) 1 Badula balfouriana Myrsinaceae Bois papaye EN(R) 1 fragrans Faham CR(M) 1 Gouania leguatii Rhamnaceae CR(R) 1 Antirhea bifurcata Rubiaceae Bois goudron EN 1 Mussaenda arcuata “ Liane cacapoule VU 1 Ramosmania heterophylla “ Café marron CR 1 Zanthoxylum paniculatum Rutaceae Patte poule piquant CR 1 Zanthoxylum heterophyllum Rutaceae Bois catafaille EN(M), 1 EW(R) Allophyllus cobbe Sapindaceae Bois de reinnette VU 1 Clerodendrum laciniatum Verbenaceae Bois cabri VU(R) 1 Clerodendrum heterophyllum Verbenaceae Bois cabri EN 1 1LC - Least concern, VU - Vulnerable, EN - Endangered, CR - Critically endangered 21: Sold at local market, 2: Collected, 3: Bark sold, 4: Entire plant sold native plants from their habitat through intense camara, Psidium cattleianum, Rubus alceifolia, Li- competition. gustrum robustum, Spathodea campanulata, Syzy- Among the other serious offenders in the Mauritian gium jambos. Among the other potential invasives and Rodriguan forests are: Ardisia crenata, Cin- are Cinnamomum verum, Schinus terebinthifolius, namomum verum, Hiptage benghalensis, Lantana Casuarina equisetifolia, Litsea glutonosa, Sola- Page 32 May 2012 num mauritianum, Ulex europaeus (KUEFFER ET AL. Park and 4 are in Rodrigues. The Forest and Re- 2004). serves Act provides protection for designated areas The regeneration of native species is compromised of state land but is inadequate to safeguard against by exotic seed predators such as rats and monkeys loss of privately owned areas with rich biodiver- etc.. These factors impoverish the indigenous veg- sity, as penalties are too weak to be an adequate etation both genetically and in numbers and the net deterrent. result is that many species are threatened with ex- Nonetheless, the Forest and Reserves Act has been tinction. instrumental in the setting up of the Conservation This has prompted the Mauritian Government to Management Areas (CMAs). The CMAs provide a take measures towards the protection of its native safe haven for rare, endemic plants, such as Termi- genetic resources through the creation of a number nalia bentzoe and Zanthoxylum sp., amongst oth- of protected areas. With funds from the Environ- ers. The CMAs are regularly weeded of invasive ment Investment Programme, the World Bank plants and this makes the environment particularly funded the establishment of the first National Park suitable for slow growing endemics. Collection is in Mauritius along with the setting up of institu- now regulated and this action has led to the safe- tions like the National Parks and Conservation guard of many of the threatened medicinal plants Services. on the brink of extinction. In Rodrigues Island, where similar CMAs have Existing legislation and framework been established, rare endemic plants, such as Ra- Mauritius is signatory to 18 international treaties mosmania rodriguesensis (Rubiaceae), have been and conventions on the environment and was the re-introduced after propagation by in vitro tech- first signatory country of the 1992 Rio Convention nique at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew (UK). on Biodiversity. In addition, there are four national The Wildlife and National Parks Act (1993): This laws of relevance to terrestrial biodiversity conser- is the principal legislation for the protection of flo- vation: ra and fauna, with the Wildlife Regulations of 1998 The Environment Protection Act (EPA) (1999 and giving effect to the CITES Convention in Mauri- 2002): This Act established the Ministry of Envi- tian law. The National Parks and Reserves Regula- ronment as the body responsible for overall co- tions made in 1996 lay down the rules regarding ordination of environmental management. Under activities on reserved land. The Act and its regu- the EPA, five ministries are assigned the role of lations are currently being revised to make them enforcement for implementation of environmental fully compliant with the provisions of CITES. The policies. The Act covers all aspects relating to EIA opportunity is also being taken to increase the le- procedures. gal protection of native biodiversity at the national Through the implementation and enforcement of level. the EPA, operators now have to resort to getting Whilst the Act makes provision for flora and fauna, their EIA certificates prior to property develop- there are some short-comings for the plants listed. ment. This has resulted in some biodiversity-rich To this date only rare endemic orchids figure in the areas being protected through the non-award of de- list. It means that while one endemic medicinal velopment permits. orchid is listed – Jumellea sp., other rare endemic The Forest and Reserves Act (1983 amended in plants can be exported without problems. A revi- 2003): This is the principal legislation governing sion of is planned, where other plants the management of forests resources; it established will be added so as to limit collection and export the power to declare national forests, nature re- where needed. serve, mountain reserves, river reserves and road The Plant Act (1976): This Act has been revised reserves. Sixteen nature reserves have been select- recently to the Plant Protection Bill. A Black List of ed for the purpose of maintaining vegetation cover the worst invasive weeds to be prevented entry into and the provision of ecosystem services. Two of Mauritius has been proposed to help protect native these nature reserves now form part of the National biodiversity. Import of plant species, especially Page 33 May 2012 horticultural species, has been scrutinised so as to that invasive plants present. The respective govern- avoid the inadvertent introduction of new invasive ments have been alerted to the conservation actions plant species. along with the appropriate policies that need to be put in place so as to safeguard this genetic resource. Conservation and protection measures Various documents lay down the policy regarding References conservation of terrestrial biodiversity: ADJANOHOUN, E.J., AKE ASSI J., ALI AHMED, L., EYME J., GUINKO, J., KAYONGA, A., KEITA, A. & LEBRAS, • The White Paper for a National Conservation M. (1982): Contributions aux etudes ethnobotaniques Strategy (NCS) (1985). The NCS defines the et floristiques aux Comores. – ACCT, Paris, France. major objectives for the conservation of natural ADJANOHOUN, E.J., AKE ASSI J., EYME J., GASSITA, resources but has been outdated and superseded J.N., GOUDOT, E., GUEHO, J., IP, F.S.L., JACKARIA, by Mauritius’ commitments under the CBD and D., KALACHAND, S.K.K., KEITA, A., KOUDOGBO, the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP). B., LANDEAU, D., OWADALLY, A.W. & SOOPRAM- The NEAP contains a programme on terrestrial ANIEN, A. (1983a): Médecine traditionelle et phar- biodiversity with a strategic goal to ‘ensure that macopée. Contribution aux études ethnobotaniques et floristiques à Maurice (Iles Maurice et Rodrigues). native Mauritian biodiversity survives, flourishes – Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Techniques. and retains its genetic diversity and potential for 214pp. evolutionary development’. ADJANOHOUN, E.J., ABEL, A., AKE ASSI J., BROWN, • In the field of genetic diversity, priorities have D., CHETTY, K.S., CHONG-SENG, L., EYME, J., been given to: FRIEDMANN, F., GASSITA, J.N., GOUDOTE, E.N., GOVINDEN, P., KEITA, A., KOUDOGBO, B., LAI SAM, - Avoid extinction of endangered and threat- G., LANDREAU, D., LIONNET, G. & SOOPRAMAN- ened species of flora and fauna by providing IEN, A. (1983b): Contributions aux etudes ethnobota- sound planning for on-site preservation in pro- niques et floristiques aux Seychelles. – ACCT, Paris, tected areas as well as off-site protection such France. as in botanical gardens. BACHRAZ, V. & TEZOO, V. (1997): A review of ex- - Preserve as wide a genetic diversity as pos- situ conservation activities in Mauritius. In: MUNGROO sible of many varieties of plants and animals & BACHRAZ (eds.), Proceedings of the workshop on restoration of highly degraded and threatened native - Preserve as many habitats as possible forests in Mauritius. – National Parks and Conserva- - Maintain the existing nature reserves and cre- tion Services. pp. 12-19. ate new ones CADET, T. (1977): La végétation de l’Ile dela Réunion: - Encourage cooperation with international Etude phyto-écologique et phytosociologique: Thèse de Doctorat-ès-Sciences. – Université Aix Marseille bodies in the furtherance of biosphere reserves. III. Among these international organisations are: CRAGG, G.M. & NEWMAN, D.J. (2000): Antineoplastic Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust (UK), Per- agents from Natural sources: achievements and future egrine Fund (USA), World Wide Fund for Na- directions. – Expert Opinion on the Investigation of ture (WWF), and Kew Gardens. Drugs 9: 2783-2797. DE SMET, P.A.G.M. (1997): The role of plant-derived Conclusion drugs and herbal medicine in health care. Drugs, 54: Small Islands States like those of the South West 801-840. Indian Ocean are blessed with unique vegetation. FLORENS, V. (2007): Indian Ocean Island Plant Special- At the global scale, the flora of the South West In- ist Group. Species 47: 16-17. dian Ocean constitutes one of the planet’s hotspot. GUEHO, J. (1988): La végétation de l’île Maurice. – Many unique specimens of plants are found within Edition de l’Ocean Indien, Mauritius 57pp. and will benefit Science and Medicine as they can GURIB-FAKIM, A., GUEHO, J., SEWRAJ, M.D. & DUL- potentially provide important leads for the devel- LOO, M.E. (1994): Plantes medicinales de l’ile Rod- rigues. – Edition de l’Ocean Indien, Mauritius 580pp. opment of new medicine or standardised extracts. GURIB-FAKIM, A., GUEHO, J. & BISSOONDOYAL, M.D. This unique flora remains highly vulnerable not (1995-97): Plantes Medicinales de Maurice (Tomes 1, only to habitat destruction but also to the threat 2, 3). – Edition de l’Ocean Indien, Mauritius. Page 34 May 2012 KUEFFER, C., VOS, P., LAVERGNE, C. & MAURE- of which is plant-based (MAHUNNAH ET AL. 2003). MOOTOO, J. (2004): FAO Report – Forestry Depart- However, various factors, including limited access ment. Forest & Biosecurity Working Papers. Case to information, knowledge, technology and capi- studies on the status of invasive woody plant species tal, compromise the ability of the people to derive in the Western Indian Ocean. Working Paper FBS/4- maximum benefits from these resources. 1E. – FAO, Rome Italy. STRAHM, W. (1989): Plant Red Data Book for Rod- An estimated 80% of the population in rigues. WWF/ IUCN. – Koeltz Scientific Books, West depend on traditional, often plant based, medicine Germany. for health care (WHO 2002); use of medicinal plants TIXIER, P. & GUEHO, J. (1997): Introduction to Mauri- is found in both rural and urban areas (GESSLER ET tian Bryology a check list of mosses and liverworts. AL. 1995a, AUGUSTINO & GILLAH 2005). Depend- – Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Reduit, ence is often found linked with economic and cul- Mauritius. tural factors so that traditional medicine is mostly WHO. (1992): Analysis of questionnaires on tradition- al medicine. – World Health Organisation, Geneva, used for, and also preferred for, holistic treatments Switzerland. (GESSLER ET AL. 1995b, OBERLÄNDER & ELVERDAN 2000). Attention on medicinal plant dependence is Ameenah Gurib-Fakim • Centre for Phytotherapy increasing in urban Tanzania (URT 2005) and the Research, 7th Floor, Cybertower 2, Ebene, Mauri- need is likely to increase (FOSU 1989), possibly due tius • email: [email protected] to the belief that plant remedies are free from unde- sirable side effects; this trend is increasing (GOOD & KIMANI 1980). Conservation assessment and Medicinal plants can be symbolically significant, management planning of medicinal being held in high cultural esteem. The concept of plants in Tanzania the ‘medicinal plant’ carries charismatic resonance across many societies, with the potential to be a R.L.A. Mahunnah, S. Augustino, J.N. Otieno universal symbol for nature conservation. A poten- & J. Elia tial problem of actively promoting integration of traditional and modern health care in Tanzania is that the medicinal plant resource is feared threat- Background ened in the wild (WHO 2001). Causes are argued Plants are the major ingredients of medicines in to be commercial collection for livelihood security most medical traditions. The total number of plants (CUNNINGHAM 1997) and selective intensive use of used worldwide may be around 40,000-50,000, species for health treatment. representing roughly one-in-six to one-in-ten of all plant species. This represents by far the biggest hu- Threats to Tanzanian medicinal plants man use of individually targeted species (HAMIL- The majority of Tanzanians still depend on biologi- TON 2005). cal resources and the limited opportunities for so- is endowed with a rich biodiversity and the cio-economic development continuously put pres- African flora is estimated to have 40,000 plant spe- sure on these (PADOCH & VAYDA 1983). Tanzanian cies (MAHUNNAH 2002), with over 35,000 species medicinal plants are mainly derived from the wild, in the East Africa region. In Tanzania, about 1,200 and population increase, pastoralist migration, en- plant species, out of the total flora of 12,667 spe- ergy requirements and policy neglect are leading to cies, are used in traditional medicines (MAHUN- their overuse and destruction of their habitat (URT NAH 1991, MAHUNNAH & MSHIU 1991, URT 1998). 1998). The use of plants for medicine leads to se- Medicinal and aromatic plants are key components lective consumption of specific plant species and of biodiversity, vital for ensuring primary health their disappearance may go unnoticed in otherwise care and livelihoods of the poor in Sub-Saharan relatively intact natural habitats, with consequences Africa and Eastern Africa in particular. Tanzania, for the integrity and functions of ecosystems. For like most African countries, has a high utility of example, recent claims on plant properties by Rev. traditional medicine in primary health care, most Ambilikile Mwasapila of Samunge in Loliondo in Page 35 May 2012