| Abstract
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In the face of threats caused by both anthropogenic and natural reasons, the question of the sustainability of medicinal plants has emerged very strongly in recent times. These plant resources, therefore, have become important domains of intervention and are increasingly attracting the attentions of public and private sector policy researchers, policy makers and development program implementers. In recognition of such importance this research is undertaken to specifically focus on three key aspects of medicinal plants in Bangladesh: (i) their local status, (ii) the market scenario, and (iii) management institutions. First, the focus was on their status; the causes of threats were examined and conversely the measures and initiatives to conserve these medicinal plants and the associated livelihood and economic implications of such initiatives were evaluated. Second, the research critically examined the medicinal plant-based herbal market system, especially to map the industry value chain in function or place. Understanding the market system, value chain mapping, and the analysis of inherent constraints to the existing value chain and the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunity and Threats (SWOT) of the medicinal plants sector all provided useful thoughts for developing a participatory approach as an ameliorative step for the medicinal plant industry value chain. The third key aspect covered by the research involved the institutional arrangement in the medicinal plant sector, where the existing ones and their linkages were identified and the options for furthering the institutional strengths from strategic and holistic resource management perspectives were pointed out, where all the stakeholders from local to national levels would have a common platform for participation through representation in order to manage the overall medicinal plant sub-sector. The field work for this research was carried out from September 2005 to March 2006. The fields involved a diverse array of study sites, i.e. the operational areas of three ongoing projects working on medicinal plants, several wholesale and retail markets of medicinal plants, and production sites and facilities of several micro-, small-, and medium-scale, medicinal plant industrial processors. Rapid Rural Appraisal methods including interviews, Focus Group Discussions, observations, and other participatory techniques were followed with a view to fulfilling research objectives. The research found that the natural stock of medicinal plants is threatened due to unsustainable harvesting practices and unchecked damaging or unaware activities. Evaluative findings on the activities of three ongoing projects showed that interventions with dual objectives of conservation and development can help offset those threats and also improve livelihood, environment and primary health situations. Markets for medicinal plants in Bangladesh are not in optimally ideal conditions due to an awkwardly longer value chain entangled with many constraints and weaknesses. Therefore, the research examined production and management through an industry-community partnership approach that can improve the existing medicinal plant value chain. Nexus among producer, processor, and promoter has been strongly advocated for a more enabled market situation in terms of demand, supply, quality and price, which will result in improved livelihoods and a healthier environment. Institutions at different levels in managing the medicinal plant sub-sector act within their own peripheral boundaries and have no strong connection with other institutions at the broader geographic level. Both sectoral and national level management lack the required major drive to build the capacity of the institutions, improve process development or enable the market situation. Therefore, the formation of a Medicinal Plant Forum comprising core representation of the stakeholders from across the scales has been underscored and deemed crucial for the better management of the medicinal plant sub-sector.
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