Page 26 - Traditional Medicine Systems of BIMSTEC Member States – 2023 Report

collection over the last many decades has resulted in the exploitation, and threat of

many medicinal plants to extinction.
The repercussions of aforementioned factors are apparent as the population of

many species like Aquilaria malaccensis, Delphinium brunonianum, Fritillaria delavayi,
Gymnadenia orchidis, Nardostachys jatamansi, Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora,

Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Onosma hookeri, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Panax pseudoginseng,
Sinolimprichtia alpine, Veronica ciliate and have declined severely and over the past

decades. These species are still under constant threat unless the circumstances’ threatening
their survival and reproduction improves. The threat is further exacerbated due constant

collection and exploitation by >2060 Local Healers and 789 TK holders practising in
the country and many private firms.

As per record maintained by the National Biodiversity Centre, Thimphu, the
IUCN red list featured 55 species under Kingdom Animalia and 15 species under

Kingdom Plantae as Vulnerable, 23 species under Kingdom Animalia and 20 species
under kingdom Plantae as Endangered, 18 species under Kingdom Animalia and 13

species under Kingdom Plantae as Critically Endangered and 2 species under Kingdom
Plantae as Extinct in the wild and Extinct in Bhutan.

To maintain healthy populations of the medicinal species, it has now become
more urgent than ever to promote and conserve the last remaining species through

multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral approaches. The survey and mapping to be conducted
in twenty Districts are expected to establish the baseline and groundwork from which

further conservation and medicinal plants management activities can be initiated.
Today, the Department of Forest and Park Services in collaboration with TM

fraternity is vested with the responsibility for “sustainable managing” of Government
Reserved Forests and for the regulation of the production, protection, transport and sale

of timber, other forest produce and wildlife, whether or not from Government Reserved
Forests. Management plans are prepared by the Department or in the case of areas

under private or community management by the responsible person or entity guided by
the ‘Forest and nature conservation act of Bhutan, 1995.’

Bhutan

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