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Application of GIS-RS in Mapping and
Conservation of Threatened Medicinal Plant Species from northern
Western Ghats of India
 Among the
34 global biodiversity hot spots, Western Ghats of India occupies
the fifth position according to the economic potential of its
biological resources. It is also one of the highly endemic areas of
the world and houses over 4000 plant species that have medicinal
uses. Modern medicine is exploiting some of these resources as major
raw material and that has threatened traditional health care
practices. The present project supported under ISRO-UoP initiative
primarily focuses on threatened medicinal plant species in the three
districts of northern Western Ghats and critically evaluate the
distribution and threat status of these species. Mapping these with
GIS-RS tools will aid identifying areas that are critical for
conservation of rare, endangered and threatened (RET) species.
Plants and their Uses:Botany of the
Sahyadris
 Supported
by National Geographic Society, US the current project looks into
the floristically under explored areas of Maharashtra and BRT & SRF
sanctuaries of Karnataka. Documenting ethnbotanical knowledge of the
local community forms an integral component of the project.
Recovery and domestication of endangered
Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Grah.) Mabb. through community
participation.
 Nothapodytes
nimmoniana (Syn. Mappia foetida, vern. Narkya) is
an endangered medicinal tree from Western Ghats of India, a
global biodiversity hot-spot. It is the most convenient source for
large-scale production of camptothecin (CPT) which is used in the
treatment of cancer and HIV-I. Because of destructive harvesting,
habitat loss, the population of this species has declined 50-80%. In
view of the mounting demand and perceived threat to the native
populations, it is highly essential to develop an appropriate
strategy (mass cultivation) for its conservation. We plan to address
this by (a) transferring the standardized technology to mass
propagate the species (b) developing protocols for a sustained and
managed utilization of the wild pool.
http://www.ruffordsmallgrants.org/rsg/projects/ankur_patwardhan
Mapping and Quantitative Assessment of
Geographic Distribution and the Population Status of Plant Resources
of Western Ghats
 Supported by Department of Biotechnology (DBT),
Govt. of India, current case study generates a high-resolution data
on woody species diversity at 6.25 km X 6.25 km scale over an entire
Western Ghats eco-region level. Plant resources have been
intensively sampled from northern Western Ghats. Masters' students of
Biodiversity (Abasaheb Garware College, Pune) are involved in the
data generation whereas RANWA provides technical expertise. |
Western Ghats of India is one of the 34 globally recognized
biodiversity hotspots known for its rich diversity of medicinal
plant species. Several plant species are becoming globally important
due to newfound curative properties. They yield high value
metabolites and are threatened globally and endemic to Western Ghats.
Unsustainable harvesting in large volumes by forest contractors
through local tribals was found to be one of the reasons for its
depletion. Reducing harvest pressure on wild population of ‘red
list’ species and promoting viable commercial cultivation with the
community and government participation is a huge challenge. The
present project involves local collectors in conservation, training
them in raising quality planting stock and mass propagation /
cultivation.