1. CONSERVATION and SUSTAINABLE USE of MEDICINAL PLANTS (CSMPP)
Medhin Zewdu
Project Coordinator

2. Project objectives
The major objectives of the project are capacity building (IPR & field genebank)
validation of traditional medicine (safety and efficacy) for treatment of both human and animal disease and;
in-situ conservation in and around the Bale Mountains National Park Area.

3. Detailed activities Establishing medicinal plants field genebank
Developing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and policy guidelines.
Conduct ethnomedical survey to explore utilization of medicinal plants and traditional health practices for the prevention of HIV and mitigation of adverse impacts of AIDS.
Conduct research on the propagation and cultivation methods of selected indigenous medicinal plants for human and livestock diseases.

4. ...activities
Phytochemical studies including, extraction, standardization, safety and efficacy testing, dosage determination and formulation.
Development of a National Medicinal Plants Database (NMDP).
An in-depth socio-economic survey

5. …activities
identify villagers/users having greatest impact on wild populations of medicinal plants through harvesting and other activities and
identify villagers/farmers for on-farm pilot propagation & cultivation trials of medicinal plants to reduce pressure from wild populations.

6. …activities
An in-depth biological survey and assessment of in-situ and ex-situ conservation, zoning of key areas within the Park
Development and implementation of appropriate management options and guidelines for sustainable harvesting of medicinal plants.

7. ...activities
Marketing and utilization of medicinal plants by THPs in and around the Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP).
Piloting of farmer based cultivation trials for a selected number of threatened and indigenous medicinal plant species on the boundaries, in home gardens and in buffer zones of the National Park.
Training of (a) relevant personnel in the conservation and management of medicinal plants (b) farmers for pilot propagation and cultivation and management.

8. Expected outputs
Field gene bank established serving research and conservation efforts.
Guideline for sustainable harvest of medicinal plants.
Cultivation practices of medicinal plants and develop sense of ownership of communities over the resources.

9. …outputs
Three phytomedicine for human diseases dosage formulated (tapeworm infections, broncho pneumonia and hypertension)
Three phytomedicine for animal diseases (tapeworm infections, mastitis and dermatophilosis) developed.
IPR policy guideline for sharing IK

10. Constraints
Project components were described in the absence of clarity as to the detailed activities to be undertaken under each component. Involvement of communities was not designed properly.
Communication among the various stakeholders including communities was not strong; both vertical and horizontal

11. Learning Exchange SOP experts in China, India and South Korea
ESTC team in China
IBCR, ESTC, THA, EHNRI & CSMPP in India & Sri Lanka.

12. Lessons learnt from the exchange
Sri Lankan Medicinal Plants project:
The approach in communities’ involvement
Designing income generating activities as incentive
Creating market opportunities (Export and local)
Formalizing Traditional Medicine; institutional setups.

13. …lessons learnt Indian experience: various
Institutional set up of traditional medicine
Role of Self Help Groups
Role of Women in cultivation and production of herbal medicine
Role of ITC in PHC

14. ..lessons learnt TBGRI linkage with communities
Award for the model for benefit sharing
Ethnomedical documentation
Etc.

15. Follow-up of study tour
1.      Documentation of IK
v     Dynamic farmer based crop genetic resources in-situ conservation project; supported by GEF
v     CSMPP in traditional medicine; FVM ethnoveterinary survey in two regions; DDR traditional medicine for human use: book is under publishing

16. progresses 1. Validation of traditional medicine
Safety and efficacy studies by CSMPP
Ethnomedical survey by DDR; follow up of the survey being proposed
2.      Training to Traditional Health Practitioners including TBAs
Initiative of Women Association of Tigray; 1400 TBAs trained and provided delivery kits

17. progresses 1. Institutionalizing Traditional medicine v DDR/EHNRI
v     Ethnobiology department within IBCR
v     Tigray Health Bureau initiative to integrate the practice…
2.      Certification of THPs
v     Initiative of the project (CSMPP) with the MoH
v     Incorporating the program in the Annual plan of the MoH for certification and provision of training

18. progresses 1. Policy issues
v     IPR guideline being developed by the ESTC
v     Access to genetic resources and community benefit sharing.
2.      In-situ and ex-situ conservation techniques
IBCR’s experience, community collaborative works, study tours in different countries, etc.

19. progresses
1.      Dissemination of experience learnt in South Asian countries
v     The Report shared with the MoH
v     Introductory workshop conducted in four weredas of Bale zone to farmers and officials of the weredas
v     Briefly reported on the Annual Review Workshop of the project
v     Study tour organized for a group of ten people to TBGRI, first week of May.

20. 1.      Use of IT at community level?
v     Satellite distance learning facilities are being setup in the rural areas
v     ESTC has started establishing IT centers in small towns.

21. Next steps 1. Community based home garden establishment
2.      Designing income generating activities for communities (Technical assistance from IUCN)
3.      Seeking consultancy on involvement of CBOs
4.      Registering THPs in the different regions and develop guideline for certification