Lok Sabha Question No. 4543 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-20
Subject: Environmental Conservation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Arjunlal Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.4543

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2020

## Environmental Conservation

## 4543. SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  his  Ministry  has  taken  steps  in  coordination  with  Department  of  AYUSH forenvironmental  conservation/protection  and  production/promotion  of  medicinal plants;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether his Ministry proposes to conserve wildlife by establishing coordination with Ministry  of  Agriculture  for  encouraging  plantation  of  medicinal  plants  and  fruit bearing trees in order to save animals and bird species from becoming extinct due to scarcity of food supply; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO )

- (a) and (b) Yes.  The  National  Biodiversity  Authority  (NBA),in  consultation  with  the Department  of  AYUSH  is  addressing  issues  pertaining  to  conservation, protection and production of medicinal plants under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

As per Section 38 of the Act,about 150 plant species, which are threatened, have  been  notified  for  conservation.In  order  to  promote  medicinal  plant cultivation, about 173  species have  been  declared  as  normally  Traded Commodities as per the provisions of the Act.Under the Act, 17 Biodiversity Heritage Sites have been notified to conserve the medicinal plant species.

The  National  Medicinal  Plants  Board  (NMPB),  Ministry  of  AYUSH  is presently implementing following schemes to ensure conservation, cultivation, and promotion of Medicinal Plants:

(i) Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM): Under the scheme, the large-scale farming / cultivation of medicinal plants is being supportfor following activities:

-  Cultivation of prioritized medicinal plants on farmer's land.
-  Establishment of nurseries for supply of quality planting material.
-  Post-harvest management.
-  Primary processing, marketing infrastructure etc.

(ii)  Central  Sector  Scheme  on  'Conservation,  Development  and  Sustainable Management  of  Medicinal  Plants'  -Under  the  scheme,  the  project-based support is provided for following activities:

-  In-situ conservation through development of Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas (MPCDAs).
-  In-situ/Ex-situ resource augmentation.
-  Ex-situ conservation through establishment of herbal gsardens.
-  Livelihood linkages with Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs)/ Panchayats/ Van Panchayats/ Biodiversity Management  Committees (BMCs) / Self Help Groups (SHGs) etc.
-  Information Education Communication(IEC) activities like Training/ workshops/ Seminars/Conferences etc.
-  Research & Development.
-  Promotion of marketing and trade of medicinal plants produce.

The scheme is implemented through Mission Directors, identified in States/ UTs located  in  State  Horticulture  /  Agriculture  Departments/  Forest  Departments/ AYUSH departments and State Medicinal Plants Boards.

Besides it,  NMPB also  supports conservation/cultivation of fruit bearing trees viz., Emblicaofficinalis,  Garcinia  indica,  Hippophaerhamnoides,  Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica etc.

- (c) and (d) The Ministry of Agriculture &  Farmers Welfare,Government of India implements  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH),  a Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  for  holistic  growth  of  the  horticulture  sector covering  medicinal  plants,  fruits,  vegetables,  spices,  etc.  Activities  such  as production of planting material, seed production, protected cultivation, organic farming etc. are covered under the scheme.