Development of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Network (MAPs-Net) Nepal

Period of project: 6 months (June – November, 2008)

Supported by: ICIMOD

Significance of the project

Detailed data on the distribution of globally important plant species in sites are unavailable, and a comprehensive global threat assessment reflecting true global conservation priorities within most plant groups is lacking. The selection of medicinal plants as a floristic sub-group for this purpose has been considered intuitively reasonable. This is because of the large number of Himalayan species that are regarded as medicinal and the livelihood that, being useful plants, their distribution and conservation status are probably relatively well known. Moreover, there have been substantial declines in traditional knowledge about Himalayan medicinal plants over the last 50 years. This is a serious matter for conservation, as traditional knowledge forms an obvious basis from which to develop modern conservation strategies.

Objectives

• Identify, mobilize, convene and appraise key stakeholders actively engaged in  MAP sector of Nepal and develop a functional, vibrant, and forward looking network engaged in information and knowledge networking, research  methodology development and awareness raising activities;

• Carry our desktop state-of-art study on medicinal, aromatic and dye plants (MADP), with emphasis on Nepal Government’s prioritized species, and their products development and marketing to promote sustainable conservation and equitable commercialization;

• Build database of a) key researchers/field workers/ advocates/policy makers; b) research and MAP Development & Outreach organizations; c) MAP projects and d) Nepal-based donors;

• Promote  public-private partnership/forum;

• Review MAPs policy for conservation, cultivation, trade and overall management; and

• Create an open access mechanism to make the detail information of Map sector accessible to all the stakeholders.