Stakeholder perspectives on use, trade, and conservation of medicinal plants in the Rasuwa district of central Nepal

Abstract

People's livelihood in several Himalayan regions largely depends on collection, use, and trade of medicinal plants. Traditional use is generally not a problem, but commercial gathering of selected species to meet increasing national and international demand can result in over-exploitation. Sustainable management of medicinal plants requires a clear understanding of the respective roles, responsibilities and viewpoints of the various stakeholders involved. Through personal interviews and group discussions, this study aimed at investigating the views of two stakeholder groups on use, trade and conservation of medicinal plants in the Rasuwa district of Nepal. Local people and district and national organizations agreed that medicinal plants are collected for a combination of commercial and personal uses. Perceptions on market availability differed significantly: 100 % of the respondents from district and national organizations saw markets as easily available, against only 36 % for local people. This could explain why medicinal plants were perceived by local people to contribute less to income generation than to livelihood improvement. Different viewpoints were also expressed concerning the status of medicinal plants in the district: 81 % of the respondents from district and national organizations considered that medicinal plants were threatened, compared to only 28 % for local people. Despite this disparity, both stakeholder groups agreed upon potential threats to medicinal plants: over-harvesting; habitat loss due to land-use change and deforestation; and over-grazing by livestock. Several challenges were identified regarding sustainable management of medicinal plants, such as ambiguous policies; lack of resources, information and infrastructures; habitat degradation; and over-exploitation. Despite these challenges, respondents agreed that the medicinal plants sector offers huge opportunities in the Rasuwa district, given resource availability, community awareness and motivation, and the priority given to the sector by governments and other agencies. Proper collaboration, communication and coordination among stakeholders are needed to grab these opportunities.

Harvest effects on density and biomass of Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora vary along environmental gradients in the Nepalese Himalayas

“…It therefore stands to reason that, respondents in LNP might be less likely to report commercial collection of Neopicrorhiza than respondents in ANCA, where such collection is permitted. Nevertheless, some studies indicate that illegal harvest of MAPs could occur in both regions due to geographical remoteness and lack of regular invigilation mechanisms (Pyakurel et al, ; Shrestha, Prasai, Shrestha, Shrestha, & Zhang, ; Uprety et al, ).…”

“…Both regions are characterized by high mountains and rugged terrain. Almost 70% of residents in ANCA and about 50% in LNP live below the poverty line (Pyakurel et al, ; Uprety, Poudel, Asselin, Boon, & Shrestha, ). Local livelihoods depend on traditional agriculture, livestock rearing, and seasonal labor (CBS, ).…”

“…Nevertheless, some studies indicate that illegal harvest of MAPs could occur in both regions due to geographical remoteness and lack of regular invigilation mechanisms Shrestha, Prasai, Shrestha, Shrestha, & Zhang, 2014;Uprety et al, 2011).…”

Traditional uses of medicinal plants in gastrointestinal disorders in Nepal

“…Most plant species are collected from the wild in unsustainable manners, also threatening species. Apart from harvesting, different factors such as deforestation, habitat encroachment, overgrazing, wildfires, shifting cultivation, and climate change contribute to species loss (Chaudhary, 1998;Uprety et al, 2011aUprety et al, , 2011bKunwar et al, 2013). It is thus important to identify valuable species, precisely map their distribution, document their status, study their life cycle, and formulate guidelines for their conservation and management.…”

Peoples’ Perception and Conservation of <i>Dactylorhiza hatagirea</i> (D. Don) Soó in Manaslu Conservation Area, Central Nepal

“…Perception of the local communities can be utilized for the benefits and costs of protected areas [9]; vegetation change [1]; conservation status of animals and plants [10]; use, trade and conservation of medicinal plants [10] [11] and setting conservation priorities [12]. Furthermore, an incorporation of local priorities gives management strategies a better chance for success, because people are more likely to obey regulations influenced by themselves than those forced on societies from outside [1] [10].…”