Status of medicinal and aromatic plants in - Inia

16
WORKING GROUP ON MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS: FIRST MEETING
• Supranational legislation (e.g. European Union)
Unlike international treaties that cannot be directly implemented, the legislation of the
European Communities has an immediate legal effect on the member states. Most important
for plant conservation are:
- The Habitat Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of
natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora – OJ L 206, 22.7.1992) defining a list of plant
species (Annex II) that require habitat protection and are part of the NATURA 2000
ecological network, a list of strictly protected plants (Annex IV) and a list of plants that
can be utilized in a managed way (Annex V).
- The Endangered Species Regulation (Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97 of 9 December 1996
on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein – OJ L 61,
3. 3. 1997) regulates the trade of threatened species.
• Strategies
Long-term goal setting and a vision for conservation are set up by strategic documents.
Some global documents that were the basis for the preparation of some international
conventions (e.g. the CBD) and national activities are mentioned below.
- 1980: World Conservation Strategy (IUCN, UNEP, WWF)
- 1991: Caring for the Earth (IUCN, UNEP, WWF)
- 1992: Global Biodiversity Strategy (WRI, IUCN, UNEP)
Specially focused on medicinal plants are the Guidelines on the conservation of medicinal
plants (WHO, IUCN, WWF), published in 1993. Selected guidelines, more related to the topic
of our meeting, are mentioned below:
- basic studies: study traditional knowledge of plant uses, identify medicinal plants,
study distribution and ecology;
- utilization: wherever possible, to cultivate medicinal plants as the source of supply;
ensure sustainable collecting from the wild;
- in situ and ex situ conservation of medicinal plant populations;
- build public support, ensure equitable sharing of benefits.
In the framework of the CBD the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation was developed in
2002. The overall goals of the strategy are quite ambitious:
- no species of wild flora to be endangered by international trade;
- 30% of plant-based products derived from sources that are sustainably managed;
- the decline of plant resources, and associated local and indigenous knowledge,
innovations and practices that support sustainable livelihoods, local food security and
health care, to be halted.
These goals were further elaborated at the European level through the Planta Europa
Network in the European Plant Conservation Strategy (2002) which deals with specific regional
aspects, going in some cases beyond global goals, setting clear goals and targets. Target 3.1
is specially related to conservation and use of plants: "Best practise for the conservation and
sustainable use of medicinal plants (and other sociologically important plants) identified and promoted
to relevant policy-makers."
• Ministerial processes
Ministerial processes can also serve plant conservation. Most relevant are Environment for
Europe (meeting of ministers responsible for the environment) and Protection of Forests in
Europe (ministers responsible for forests).