Medicinal Plants: An Expanding Role in Development (World Bank, 1996, 32 pages): Abstract

Medicinal Plants: An Expanding Role in Development (World Bank, 1996, 32 pages)

		(introductory text...)
		Foreword
		Abstract
		Acknowledgments
		Executive summary
		1. Introduction
		2. The resource base
		3. Medicinal plants in world bank projects
		4. Toward a strategy
		Appendix 1
		Bibliography
		Distributors of World Bank publications
		Recent world bank technical papers

Abstract

Medicinal plants are commonly used in treating and preventing specific ailments and diseases and are considered to play a beneficial role in health care. Despite their importance, medicinal plants are seldom handled within an organized regulated sector; most are still exploited with little or no regard to the future. The paper outlines the importance and usage of medicinal plants in health care, national conservation activities m selected countries and in World Bank development projects. The final section focuses on developing country strategy needs for implementing policies covering medicinal plant conservation, cultivation processing and marketing. Medicinal plants are viewed as a possible bridge between sustainable economic development, affordable health care and conservation of vital biodiversity.