Experience in the Conservation of Medicinal Plants in Sri Lanka

摘要

At the commencement of Project 3320 in June 1986 (see previous paper), there was a bias towards in situ conservation. But as work got underway it became clear that there was a need for a simultaneous ex situ con-servation as well. The main reason for this was the comparatively recent resurgence of Ayurveda (Indigenous Medicine) in Sri Lanka and its developments as an acceptable form of Alternative Medicine. As the Sri Lanka Co-ordinator of the Project I saw the relevance of establishing a rapport between the in situ conservation authorities, namely the Forest Department and the Department of Wildlife Con-servation (DWLC), and those involved in the cultivation of herbs in nurseries. The latter included the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine, which has several WHO-aided Nurseries scattered over the island, the Bandaranaika Memorial Ayurvedic Research Institute (BMARI) near Colombo, the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) in Peradeniya and several private growers. This rapport was established by forming at ministerial level a representative Committee to include all concerned. I have worked closely with the different institutions named above and visited several private herbaria and would like to set down my findings briefly.