• How to conserve and augment ecological resources and traditional practices (herbs and medicinal plants, indigenous knowledge systems etc) of the agro-pastoral communities in the mountains – especially in view of various climate change implications?
In these remote alpine regions, the best way to conserve the plants is to give support to communities. Learn how they used these plants in their lifestyle, what are the other useful ways for these plants etc. Study of climate change over these plants may help us but local community members will more help in this regard. It is sure that for all the plants, which gives them benefit in anyway, there will be a solution to prevent it from any gradual change, and old community members surely have those techniques. However, with the result of field studies, we can do alternative arrangements, like if rain fall pattern is non uniform, we may built a reservoir/tank and we can adopt alternatives for other problems too, however it should be noted that due to these establishments, the sovereignty, livelihood and lifestyle should not be affected.
• Since these areas are mainly used for tourism and recreational purposes how can eco-tourism be promoted and used as an incentive to maintain traditional practices including ecological knowledge on conservation and use of medicinal plants and herbs?
The primary work is to identify the plants, their use and benefits and its documentation. Promotion to wellness centres will be beneficial for this.
• Is it possible to evolve a system of certifying or recognizing local healers / traditional doctors/ practitioners, particularly in areas that are inaccessible to formal medical facilities in the remote areas of the Alpine-Himalayas?
Certification may be given only after a primary training to these local people. Moreover, it will be more beneficial if these certifications will help them to have some loan assistance to open their own centres.
(publishesd as a response over a query of UN development initiative team in India)
Enabling Conservation of Medicinal Plants and Traditional Knowledge for Climate Change Adaptation
