Botanic Gardens Linking Plants with Improvements to Healthcare


BGCI: The global network Our work Preventing plant extinctions Africa Central and South America China North America Russia and Georgia Southeast Asia Plants for people Medicinal plants Human well-being The Global Trees Campaign Magnolia Oaks Policy frameworks Gran Canaria II GSPC BGCI Policy Tools International Agenda 2010 BG Targets International Frameworks Plants2010 Regional & National Frameworks CITES Manual Education Our supporters and partners Join in Resource centre Education centre Climate change information centre PlantSearch GardenSearch Sign up to our newsletter:	Our work > Botanic Gardens Linking Plants with Improvements to Healthcare Botanic Gardens Linking Plants with Improvements to Healthcare The importance of plants for healthcare has often been underestimated. However, the use of medicinal plants is not old-fashioned, or soley an alternative to traditional healthcare: it is estimated that 80% of the world's population depends directly on plant-based medicines for their healthcare (WHO, 2003). The Role of Botanic Gardens Many botanic gardens play an active role in medicinal plant study and research, cultivation and conservation. Relevant activities include: Working with communities to document and use indigenous and local knowledge Education on the value and uses of sustainably harvested medicinal plants Collecting and developing gene pools of wild stock plants, to ensure successful conservation. Research to discover and investigate medicinal and toxicity plant properties. Using collections to support local initiatives in primary health care, particularly in developing countries Using collections to support screening programmes for pharmaceutical companies, in accordance with guidelines on Access and Benefit Sharing, and to assay the value and safety of particular medicines Improving the agronomy of cultivated medicinal plants Cultivating medicinal plants, to tackle unsustainable wild harvesting and improve ease of harvest. Horticultural therapy, using plants and gardening to treat physical and mental disorders. Examples of Botanic Gardens' Work Please see the well-being case studies. Our section on conservation also holds relevant studies: Medicinal Plant Conservation: Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI) International trade in medicinal plants: conservation issues and potential roles for botanic gardens The Conservation and Utilization of Atractylodes lancea Conserving and cultivating medicinal plants in Ghana Project development BGCI is currently planning projects to develop the role of botanic gardens in safeguarding medicinal plants and their use in healthcare, often in collaboration with partners relevant to healthcare and sustainable plant use. A current project is assessing the role of botanic gardens in conserving and managing medicinal plants. We welcome any assistance with data collection: please contact us. Plants for Life: Medicinal Plants Under Threat BGCI has published the findings of a year-long investigation into the state of medicinal plants around the world. Read more... Working With Clinics for Local Healthcare Needs in South Africa Garden Route Botanical Garden is working with local healthcare clinics with limited supplies on conventional medications, to encourage the safe use of medicinal plants for common ailments. Read more... CITES and Medicinal Plants Study: A Summary of Findings BGCI is working to link plant conservation with improvements in human well-being through a new project for threatened medicinal species to help ensure on-going access to vital plant resources. Medicinal plant displays are popular features in gardens, who also contribute research and other services. Read more... Find Out More Indian Medicinal Plants Database This online Encyclopedia of Indian Medicinal Plants lists the information available with Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions on each medicinal plant species such as number of vernacular names, distribution data, trade, propagation, agro-technique, seed storage, and much more. Thrive - Using Gardening to Change Lives Gardening can help anyone with a disability. Through its research, education and promotional activities Thrive aims to show how, why and where people with a disability can benefit. Medicinal Plants Conservation Project - Egypt Supported by UNDP and GEF, the MPCP aims “To eliminate the root causes of biodiversity loss and the threats to the conservation and sustainable use of wild Medicinal Plants in Egypt.” Their objectives include the creation of a National Strategy on the Conservation of Medicinal Plants.	Journal Articles Traditional Methods of Conserving Medicinal Plants in Zimbabwe July 1997 Plants That Save Lives: a Report from an International Symposium on Medicinal Plants May 1994 Related News $4.4million for Africa-US Medicinal Plants Partnership 8th December 2005 Wonders of Plant Medicinal Powers Revealed in San Francisco 27th September 2005 Mound, Maze & Rock Art at Garden Route 1st December 2005 Zulu Medicinal Plants This inventory of nearly 1000 plants used in Zulu traditional medicine is based on a survey dating from the late-19th century to the present. Have your say! BGCI Membership Questionnaire 2008 BGCI is striving to improve the services that we provide to our members. We need your help in order to do this. Please take 5 minutes to submit our Membership Questionnaire.