Herbal plants diminishing in state’s forests: Kharshiing

SHILLONG: Uncontrolled sourcing of herbal plants from the forests of Meghalaya for medicinal use and treatment of patients in rural areas is posing a threat to the valuable resource, the Society for Protection of Indigenous Knowledge and Practices has observed.
In a statement issued here, the Society’s chairman, John Kharshiing said the herbal plants of the state were being sourced rampantly from the forests and thus facing a serious threat.
In this connection, Kharshiing urged the state government to consider reviewing the central laws such as The Forest Conservation Act 1950, the Biological Diversity Act 2002, the Biological Diversity Rules 2004 and the Meghalaya State Medicinal Plant Board.
He also called for amendment of the Acts so as to suit the Customary Land and Forest Laws of Meghalaya as they were yet to recognise the various categories of over 15 types of land and forests in the state.
According to him, the villages surrounding the over 100 sacred forests and thousands of individual, clan and Hima/Elaka / Nokma forests in Meghalaya require immediate livelihood funding and support as the pressure continues to mount on the resources because of increasing human activities.
“We will appreciate if the state government considers making it mandatory for all MLA funds to include, adopt, fund and support the World Environment Day plantations, nurseries, environmental schemes to existing and new individuals, clan and community forests,” Kharshiing said.
He further said the future generation would be greatly benefitted if all legislators part with Rs 50 lakh from the Rs 2 crore MLA fund each year to support such critical eco-activities. “It will change the 60 constituencies,” he said.
Kharshiing asserted that the current allocation under the Meghalaya State Medicinal Plant Board was too small and insufficient.
“Budgetary allocation of funds should be increased specifically for home gardens given that 80 per cent of land in Meghalaya is individually owned,” he added.