Meghalaya State Medicinal Plants Board (MSMPB)
Conservation and sustainable management of medicinal plants.
Introduction
Meghalaya is endowed with rich floral diversity, including a wide range of medicinal and aromatic plants. The use of medicinal plants has a long-standing tradition among the indigenous communities of the State, whose traditional knowledge represents an important part of its cultural and natural heritage. The medicinal plants sector offers considerable potential for biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource management, livelihood generation and rural economic development. Growing demand for medicinal plants and plant-based raw materials also presents opportunities for cultivation, post-harvest management, value addition and market development.
The Government of Meghalaya constituted the Meghalaya State Medicinal Plants Board (MSMPB) to promote the conservation, cultivation, sustainable management and development of medicinal plants in the State. The Board works towards coordinating relevant initiatives, supporting the documentation of medicinal plant resources and traditional knowledge, promoting capacity building, and facilitating livelihood opportunities through the sustainable use of medicinal plants.
Diversity of Medicinal Plants
Meghalaya's varied altitudes, forest types and agro-climatic conditions provide habitats for a diverse range of medicinal and aromatic plants. This biological richness is complemented by the traditional knowledge of the indigenous communities inhabiting the State, whose practices vary across regions and communities.
Ethnobotanical studies and other publications have documented numerous medicinal plant species found in Meghalaya. The existing inventory records 834 medicinal plant species in the State. This diversity includes herbs, trees, shrubs, climbers and other plant forms occurring across different habitats. Documentation, identification and assessment of these resources are important for understanding their distribution, promoting sustainable utilisation and identifying priorities for conservation and further research.
Endemic and Threatened Medicinal Plant Species
Endemic Species
Meghalaya is home to several medicinal plant species of conservation importance. Some have restricted geographical distributions, while others face threats from habitat loss, resource extraction and other environmental pressures. 8 medicinal plant species are reported to be endemic to Meghalaya, while 37 species found in the State are endemic to wider biogeographic regions, including the Eastern Himalayas and Indo-Burma region.
Threatened Category
17 medicinal plant species occurring in Meghalaya have been classified under threatened categories. Examples include Taxus wallichiana Zucc., Dendrobium nobile Lindl., Panax pseudoginseng Wall., Nepenthes khasiana Hook.f. Identification, documentation and conservation of these species are important for protecting Meghalaya's unique biodiversity and promoting the sustainable management of its medicinal plant resources.
Nepenthes khasiana Hook.f
Taxus wallichiana Zucc.
Panax pseudoginseng Wall.
Some Medicinal & Aromatic plants found in Meghalaya are listed below:
Acorus calamus L.
Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br
Averrhoa carambola L.
Asparagus racemosus willd.
Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.
Alpinia galanga (L.) willd
Curcuma longa L.
Costus speciosus (J.Koenig)
Centella asiatica L.
Kaempferia galanga L.
Myrica esculenta Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don
Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.ex DC.) Wight &Arn.
Piper longum L.
Rubia cordifolia Linn.
Cinnamomum tamala (Buch. -Ham.) T.Nees & Eberm.
Phyllanthus emblica L.
Ageratina odenophora (Spreng.) R.M.King & H. Rob.
Solanum indicum L.
Swertia chirayita Buch. -Ham. ex-Wall
Ocimum sanctum Linn.
Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall.
Vitex negundo L.
Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers
Tamarindus indica L.
Zanthoxylum armatum DC.
Zingiber zerumbet L.
Zingiber officinale Roscoe
Functions of MSMPB
The board is Headed by a Chief Executive Officer of the rank of Conservator of Forests, promotes the conservation, cultivation and sustainable management of medicinal and aromatic plants in the State. Its key functions include:
- Extend financial assistance to farmers cultivating medicinal plants.
- Identify, document, inventorise and quantify medicinal plants.
- Promote in-situ conservation and ex-situ cultivation.
- Facilitate co-operative efforts and cluster activities.
- Deal with matters related to import and export.
- Develop protocols for cultivation, standardization and quality control.
- Empower farmers/growers through capacity building.
Core Objectives & Strategic Initiatives
The Board implements approved programmes in accordance with the guidelines of the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, focusing on the conservation, cultivation and sustainable management of medicinal plants. The schemes implemented by the Meghalaya State Medicinal Plants Board include:
Promotion of Herbal Gardens
- School Herbal Garden.
- Institutional/ Public Herbal Garden.
- Herbal Gardens of State and National Importance.
Forward and Backward Linkage in Supply Chain of Medicinal Plants
- Infrastructure for Quality Planting Materials.
- Establishment and maintenance of Model & Small Nurseries for supply of Quality Planting Materials.
- IEC Activities.
- Infrastructure for Post Harvest Management and Marketing.
- Drying Yard & Storage Godown
Achievements
Establishment of Herbal Display House
Documentation of indigenous medicinal plant knowledge and traditional practices associated with local communities and healers.
Seminar-cum-Workshop
Ongoing and Proposed Projects
2. Establishment of Public Herbal Garden at Mawtepiew and Nongtrai Villages, East Khasi Hills.
3. Bio-reclamation and livelihood generation in coal mine-degraded lands of East Jaintia Hills District through suitable medicinal and aromatic plants.
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