Key words: Cultivable Medicinal Trees ( CMT), Rare Endangered and Threatened (RET), Economic RET(eRET), Harvested Destructively for Heartwood, Trunk bark, Roots and Gum (DHBRG), Department of Ayurved, Yoga, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy (AYUSH), National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Environment and Forests ( MoEF), Indian Forest Service( IFS), Chief Conservator of Forests(CCF), Non Timber Forest Produce( NTFP), Minor Forest Produce( MFP), Corporate Social Green Responsibility (Green CSR), Indian Forestry Bank (IFB), Indian Forestry Trust Fund (IFTF)
Cultivable Economic Medicinal Trees - Medicinal trees are economic but long gestation crops. They can be cultivated in selected ecological zones. Marginal farmers can not grow them for profits on small land pieces. Small farmers can not wait long for returns. Medicinal trees were important for users and hence were chopped selectively. Some of them are no more present in quantities in primary natural forests. Interestingly, medicinal tree parts are traded regularly in quantities of 000' metric tonnes/ year. The total consumption of medicinal trees and plants is estimated to be 3.18 lakh metric tonnes/ year. Non availability and continued use, both are subjects of concern. Next generation may not see them and may not probably get them even if needed for serious illnesses. They are needed in future to continue the tradition. Normally trees take decades to mature. The medicinal trees can be divided in two groups. Those harvested without much destruction, by removal of leaves, seeds, fruits, branches, flowers etc. The other group is harvested destructively for removal of bark, heartwood, roots and gum. Normally tree dies immediately or after some period because of destructive kind of harvesting. These trees have become eRETs. RET word denotes rare, endangered and threatened. eRETs is appropriate to suggest economic and RET both. Normally RET trees and plants are listed at Botanical Survey of India, with or without economics. It is easy to deal with commodities having economics. They are also required in large quantities.
Officially speaking, Indian forest department does not have mandate of growing eRET CMTs. The subject of medicinal trees is handled(?) by union ministry of health. Minister of health & Family welfare can write to Forest minister to include eRET cultivable medicinal trees in forestry plantations. This is the need of the hour. Similarly secretary, health and secretary, AYUSH, the department looking after medicinal plants/ trees working under ministry of health has to write to secretary environment and forest to reserve eRET medicinal trees in their plantations. Forest department often has annual plantation programmes and working plans. CEO, National Medicinal Plants Board, as joint secretary in Ministry of Health & the most competent IFS officer of the rank of CCF and above can ideally and informally discuss with his colleagues in Ministry of Forests and formally write to all concerned in India re. suggestions and comments for inclusion of eRET DHBRG CMT in forest plantations. Forest still has only timber as major forest produce in the mind. All others are called non timber forest produce NTFP and the same are termed as minor forest produce.This minor is going to become major soon. The forest department has to prepare mind to accept the reality.
Forest is the largest land holder and major player in government supported plantation business. Due to lack of will and seriousness to grow trees, all factors like inappropriate planning, poor funding, non post surveillance, false cost norms etc came into existance. The forest department has not earned credibility like Jewish National Fund, who planted 240 million trees in Israel. Every citizen wishes to support JNF's tree plantation activity. Forest department in India should strive to earn credibility once again.
Green CSR: Private land holders can grow trees. Indian forestry bank and forestry trust fund can be created for long term soft loans. Promotional tax benefits, grants and facilities can help increase the Green tree cover.
Corporate Social Green Responsibility will become a key word in years to come.
Dr. Mandar Akkalkotkar, ayurvedscienceforum@gmail.com, 9822777161
Cultivable Economic Medicinal Trees - Medicinal trees are economic but long gestation crops. They can be cultivated in selected ecological zones. Marginal farmers can not grow them for profits on small land pieces. Small farmers can not wait long for returns. Medicinal trees were important for users and hence were chopped selectively. Some of them are no more present in quantities in primary natural forests. Interestingly, medicinal tree parts are traded regularly in quantities of 000' metric tonnes/ year. The total consumption of medicinal trees and plants is estimated to be 3.18 lakh metric tonnes/ year. Non availability and continued use, both are subjects of concern. Next generation may not see them and may not probably get them even if needed for serious illnesses. They are needed in future to continue the tradition. Normally trees take decades to mature. The medicinal trees can be divided in two groups. Those harvested without much destruction, by removal of leaves, seeds, fruits, branches, flowers etc. The other group is harvested destructively for removal of bark, heartwood, roots and gum. Normally tree dies immediately or after some period because of destructive kind of harvesting. These trees have become eRETs. RET word denotes rare, endangered and threatened. eRETs is appropriate to suggest economic and RET both. Normally RET trees and plants are listed at Botanical Survey of India, with or without economics. It is easy to deal with commodities having economics. They are also required in large quantities.
Officially speaking, Indian forest department does not have mandate of growing eRET CMTs. The subject of medicinal trees is handled(?) by union ministry of health. Minister of health & Family welfare can write to Forest minister to include eRET cultivable medicinal trees in forestry plantations. This is the need of the hour. Similarly secretary, health and secretary, AYUSH, the department looking after medicinal plants/ trees working under ministry of health has to write to secretary environment and forest to reserve eRET medicinal trees in their plantations. Forest department often has annual plantation programmes and working plans. CEO, National Medicinal Plants Board, as joint secretary in Ministry of Health & the most competent IFS officer of the rank of CCF and above can ideally and informally discuss with his colleagues in Ministry of Forests and formally write to all concerned in India re. suggestions and comments for inclusion of eRET DHBRG CMT in forest plantations. Forest still has only timber as major forest produce in the mind. All others are called non timber forest produce NTFP and the same are termed as minor forest produce.This minor is going to become major soon. The forest department has to prepare mind to accept the reality.
Forest is the largest land holder and major player in government supported plantation business. Due to lack of will and seriousness to grow trees, all factors like inappropriate planning, poor funding, non post surveillance, false cost norms etc came into existance. The forest department has not earned credibility like Jewish National Fund, who planted 240 million trees in Israel. Every citizen wishes to support JNF's tree plantation activity. Forest department in India should strive to earn credibility once again.
Green CSR: Private land holders can grow trees. Indian forestry bank and forestry trust fund can be created for long term soft loans. Promotional tax benefits, grants and facilities can help increase the Green tree cover.
Corporate Social Green Responsibility will become a key word in years to come.
Dr. Mandar Akkalkotkar, ayurvedscienceforum@gmail.com, 9822777161
