Is there a big loss of medicinal plant species in India?
An institutional mechanism needs to be put in place to systematically assess and enlist the decline and loss of medicinal plant species and to monitor and assess threat to wild populations of prioritised species. Article 8 d of CBD specifically states: ‘Promote the protection of ecosystems, natural habitats and the maintenance of viable populations of species in natural surroundings.’ The MoEF, however, has no long-term programme, strategy or dedicated funding for monitoring viable populations and undertaking assessment of medicinal plants. On a relatively small scale, some efforts have been undertaken by NGOs using IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. According to such studies, 335 wild medicinal plants of India have been identified as being under various categories of threat of extinction ranging from Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered to Critically Endangered. Eighty-four of these species of conservation concern have been recorded in high volume trade. There is a need to put
