International Actions

Countries facing the problems of declining medicinal-plant resources probably have a lot to learn from each other. Collaboration between countries such as China, India, Ethiopia, Indonesia where cultivation programs are being developed is one approach. Another is to get those countries to cooperate with the others who have not yet begun to take stock of their medicinal-plants or whose resources are just too limited for the task.

The international research institutions can possibly play a major role in providing expertise in developing local capacities and assisting governments in framing appropriate laws to ensure protection of medicinal plants and to control their exploitation. As already noted, international agencies such as WHO, WWF, IUCN, and IPGRI also have experience to offer. They are presently playing a limited, but increasing role in medicinal plant conservation and cultivation. The recently established Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), linking more than 450 botanic gardens, is potentially a major resource for the conservation and development of medicinal species.