Medicinal Plant Resources North Bengal Plains

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Medicinal Plants have been used by the humans from the very beginning and has been documented in many Indian scriptures. The floral diversity has many ecosystem services and are vital for health security of the Country, The World Health Organization estimated that a minimum of 20,000 Plants taxa has recorded medicinal uses. It has been well accepted, that human health are dependent on biodiversity as most of the top selling drugs are derived from natural resources. Studies have shown that 75% of the world populations rely for health care on traditional medicines, which are derived directly from the natural resources>

West Bengal is a mega biodiversity State having around 3580 Plant Species spread over 10 Forest Types of the State out of the 16 Forest Types found in India. The Northern part of West Bengal is part of hotspot of biodiversity in the Eastern Himalayan Region comprising of rare, threatened and endangered Plant Species with medicinal values. However, the conservation of Medicinal Plants is major challenge as anthropogenic pressure on the forests has increased as well as exploitation of Medicinal Plants is increasing for using in pharmaceuticals, herbal medicine, flavouring, cosmetics, perfumes, natural nutritional products ete. The majority of Medicinal Plants are high in demand and are still being collected from the wild leading to unsustainable exploitation, threat to genetic diversity and species survival. In India, around 90% of the Medicinal Plants traded in the Country are collected from wild.

The Research Wing of the Forest Directorate, Government of West Bengal, conducted many studies and surveys along with expert Botanist of North Bengal University, Jadavpur University and FRLHT-Bangalore for assessment of Medicinal Plant resources in the State as very little is known about the distribution, abundance, ecology and genetic diversity of these Plants. Medicinal Plants Conservation Areas were identified on the basis of explorations and field surveys. These Conservation Areas for Medicinal Plants have been established in different Forest Types representing the unique biodiversity and species richness. The major challenges for conservation are identification, inventorization and understanding the management requirements for most of these Plants. Forest Department, Government of West Bengal, has implemented many conservation strategies including is rits and ex sits conservation of Medicinal Plants. A project on Conservation of Medicinal Plants was started with the financial support of National Medicinal Plants Board since 2013. The focus is the conservation in the natural habitat, development of nursery techniques, Plantation of priority species in the forests as well as in the farm lands. Biodiversity plots inside different forest types have been earmarked for better understanding and management of natural resources. Medicinal Plants Gardens have been established in the State for awareness generation as well as for production of high quality seedlings of priority species.

Earlier, Research Wing of the Forest Directorate published a book "Medicinal Plant Resources of South Bengal" containing details of 581 Medicinal Plants of that region. There was need for documentation of Medicinal Plants Species of North Bengal. It was decided that a parate publication will be made for North Bengal Plains and North Bengal Hills. This book Medicinal Plant Resources of North Bengal Plains" described 698 Medicinal Plant Species of North Bengal Plains covering vast and variety of ecological niches of Terai & Duars area having rich density & diversity of species. The Medicinal Plants are described with coloured photograph taken in the natural habitat, common & scientific name, distribution and ecology, flowering & fruiting and uses along with cultivation and propagation technical description.

It is worthwhile to acknowledge contribution of Prof. (Dr.) Monoranjan Chowdhury and his team of Research Scholars of Botany Department, North Bengal University for technical inputs & editing the text. I also sincerely thank Committee of Officers posted in North Bengal for field surveys & compilation of records for publication of this book.

I appreciate the outstanding contribution and commendable work of Officers & Staff of Research Wing of the Forest Directorate, Govt. of West Bengal. I sincerely hope that this book will provide necessary guidance in conducting future research in the Medicinal Plants

The State of West Bengal is a mega Biodiversity State, having 3580 Species (21.33%) spread over 10 forest types of State out of 16 forest types found in India. It is also well known that Biodiversity and species richness is more in Northern part of Bengal in comparison to Southern part of Bengal. Considering the fact, an assessment was made by the forest department of Wet Bengal with the help of group of expert Botanists, FRLHT (NGO) and other experts related to this field and on the basis of their recommendation during 2008, Seven MPCAS (Medicinal Plant Conservation Area) have been established & 46 medicinal plant species have been identified as flagship species, out of those seven MPCAs, three MPCAs (i.e. North Rajabhatkhawa MPCA, Sursuti MPCA and North Sevoke MPCA) representing unique biodiversity and very rich medicinal plant resources in Terai & Duars region of North Bengal plains. The area is also covered under IUCN recognition as Himalaya Hotspot for Conservation (Conservation International 2005). Considering the diversity and species richness, three MPCAsie. North Rajabhatkhawa MPCA, Sursuti MPCA and North Sevoke MPCA have been chosen as study area. Preliminary study has been done over the area by North Bengal University, Botany Dept. in collaboration with West Bengal Forest Department, Research Wing and recorded presence of huge number of medicinal plant potential.

An attempt was made to prepare a document on Medicinal plant resources of Terai & Duars of North Bengal Plains in the form of a Book "Medicinal plant resources of North Bengal Plains" is based on comprehensive field survey conducted over different places of North Bengal plains covering Terai & Duars areas having rich density & diversity of medicinal plant species within & adjoining forest areas, covering vast & diversified ecological entity by the Research wing of Forest Directorate.

In this publication, the Research wing of Forest directorate depicting 698 no of medicinal plant species described with coloured photograph, common & scientific name, distribution & ecology, technical description, flowering & fruiting, medicinal uses with cultivation and propagation note.

For the preparation of this compendium, the study areas of all three MPCAs have been chosen in this less undisturbed & resourceful areas. There are illegal collector and traders are involved for illegal trading of medicinal plant resources. In order to prevent such huge exploitation of natural resources following conservation strategies have been adopted:

In-situ & ex-situ conservation of medicinal plants over the areas.

Cultivation of economically important medicinal plant with the help of Registered Joint Forest management committee (JFMC) inhabiting the adjoining forest.

Joint Forest management committee (JFMC) members realized their own wealth available in their adjoining forest. Strategy has been adopted for cultivation of some economically important medicinal plants with by back strategy in consultation with reliable drag industry and cultivation will be done strategically so that FPC members can have ensured income & thus the system in turn will automatically minimize illegal harvesting of medicinal plants from natural habitat Thus, our target MPCAs resources will be conserved and preserved.

Also, to arrange some training facility and installation of storage go-down to facilitate processed or semi-processed medicinal plant products as harvested from cultivation will help them on way to marketing. This strategy will help JFMC members to get healthy & ensured economic return and also conserve plant resources in natural habitat (MPCAs).

Medicinal plants are over exploited and consequently many species are on the verge of extinction. It has also been felt that the threat to species increases, as the people become aware of their uses. It is, therefore, imperative to protect, conserve and propagate the floral diversity of medicinal value occurring in the forest areas. It is only the forestry sector that can effectively ensure a long term in-situ conservation and sustainable availability of the medicinal plants. For this purpose, earlier Medicinal Plants Conservation Area (MPCAs) and presently Medicinal Plants Conservation Development Areas (MPCDAs) have come into the existence for conservation & management of medicinal plants in their natural habitats.

The use of plants in order to achieve a medicinal purpose is called alternative medicine (AM). AM has been used in all cultures particularly Asian and western culture Unfortunately, most people nowadays still believe that the only trusted and effective medicine is the medicine that has a dosage form. Even though there are many pills or capsules consumed daily coming originally from plant. Our ancient ancestors used plants and herbs to preserve and flavor food, reduce pain, treat headaches, and even prevent diseases including epidemics. The knowledge of their healing properties has been transmitted over the centuries within and among human communities. Active compounds produced during secondary metabolism are usually responsible for the biological properties of plant species used throughout the globe for various purposes, including treatment of infectious diseases.

In West Bengal, North Bengal plains is considered to be one of the richest biodiversity area of West Bengal representing an unique ecological entity consisting rare, threatened and endangered medicinal plant species. It is well known that biodiversity and species richness is more in northern part of Bengal.

However, the present publication is not a final document of medicinal plants resources of North Bengal Plains, scope is there to include more important resources in next volume, as the resource potential is huge in this area and lot of study is yet to be done to explore & document medicinal plant resources of Terai & Duars of North Bengal plains.

Considering species richness and diversity of the area and based on technical assessment three Medicinal Plant Conservation areas had already been established and further establishment of some new Medicinal Plant Conservation areas in North Bengal plains are in progress.