MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS AS GLOBAL RESOURCES

The remarkable development of interest and activity in medicinal and aromatic plants is placed in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Leipzig FAO Global Plan of Action.
The lack of reliable information about which species are used as medicinal or aromatic plants (MAPs) is emphasized as is the paucity of data about the trade in these species.
Stress is put on the need to regard MAPs as biological resources that need to be used sustainably.
Problems of wild harvesting, often leading to overexploitation are discussed and the possibilities of cultivation to reliveve pressure on wild populations.
The issues involved in bioprospecting are considered, including intellectual property rights and access to genetic resources.
The need for genetic conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants is emphasized and the role of botanic gardens considered.
Attention is drawn to the role of International Council for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ICMAP) in coordinating activities across the broad spectrum of MAPs.

II WOCMAP Congress Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Part 1: Biological Resources, Sustainable Use, Conservation and Ethnobotany

V. Heywood

Medicinal and aromatic plants, Convention on Biological Diversity, wild harvesting, bioprospecting, intellectual property rights, cultivation, genetic resources, botanic gardens, ICMAP

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1999.500.1