A Rapid Assessment Survey of NTFPs was undertaken during 1998-2000 by the Forest Department of Andhra Pradesh, India. Each assessment team comprised of an ethno-botanist, local health practitioner, NGO, Tribal Welfare Department representative and forest officials. The team members made extensive field visits to potential medicinal plant areas in the forests and also interacted with local villagers including local health practitioners. The team could document many of the available NTFPs and also assign the rare, endangered and threatened status based on their perception. The survey team also tried to capture the traditional knowledge of local health practitioners and gain an insight into the usage of different medicinal plants and marketable NTFPs.

A series of workshops were conducted in the State dividing the area into three zones i.e. Telangana, Rayalaseema, and Circar to enable the several Rapid Assessment Survey (RAS) teams share their experiences. Issues relating to scientific harvesting, processing and marketing of NTFPs were also discussed during the three workshops. The following is a summary of recommendations made by the RAS groups regarding conservation, harvesting and value addition and marketing of NTFPs.

A key recommendation is to identify certain potential areas having high occurrence of important medicinal plants/NTFPs and species diversity for further development as Medicinal Plant Conservation Area (MPCAs). Considering MPCAs as gene pool conservation areas, the objective is to conserve gene pool of important NTFPs in the wild form and restrict the harvesting of species from the wild population. This is the underlying principle for the creation of MPCAs. Recognizing this as a viable approach to conserving medicinal plants in the State, Andhra Pradesh forest department has entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Tradition (FRLHT), Bangalore on conservation and development of NTFPs in the forests of Andhra Pradesh by creating MPCAs and Medicinal Plant Development Area (MPDAs).

Priority should be given to high medicinal plant species diversity areas and ecosystems that are free from law and order problems and have comparatively less biotic interference. The area should have endemic, rare, endangered or vulnerable species. Average area of each MPCA must be around 200-250 ha to allow adequate area of plant population to be contained. In case of rich canopy with special microclimate, and high species diversity smaller areas can also be considered, but it should not be less than 50 ha. Areas having well defined

natural boundaries preferably a micro watershed area may be considered. Importance should be given to existing sacred groves.

· Record the presence of the species as well as their

distribution pattern

· Conduct botanical studies in MPCA in partnership

with local people such as local health practitioners

and Vaidyas. This should be done in three different

seasons (spring, monsoon period and post monsoon

period).

· Record during the survey, the details of slope, as

pect, altitude, local names, frequency of occurrence,

and regeneration status.

· Analyze data using appropriate statistical analysis

tools.

· Establish demonstration plots of important medicinal

plants within the vicinity of MPCAs.

· Lay down nature trials and establish interpretation

centers for educating the locals. Also conduct

eco-study tours for local children.

· Introduce awareness courses on medicinal plants and

their role in the ecosystem in schools and colleges.

· Produce and distribute publication in local language

on importance of medicinal plants in basic primary

health care.

· Educate local people especially the young generation

about the importance of MPCA and its conservation.

Local Vaidyas, teachers, NGOs and other interested

people should be involved for this purpose.

Based on the results of survey, species have to be prioritized and the status may be given as 'rare', 'vulnerable', 'endangered' or others, using IUCN classification and depending upon its medicinal value. Certain areas that contain rare and endemic species can be declared as 'No harvest sites'. Such areas (MPCA) must be protected with 'social fencing' or by any such means to reduce biotic pressure. Natural regeneration (in-situ conservation) should be encouraged with protection measures and cultural operations Artificial regeneration (ex-situ conservation) through stem cuttings, tissue cultures and other appropriate methods may be done to supplement where population of that species is low. Modern technology like Mist chambers, root trainer nurseries can be used for artificial regeneration.

MPCA should be closed for commercial exploitation,

while low level harvesting for local use may be allowed. Commercial harvesting can be allowed on a sustainable use basis for selection of species that can be regenerated. But for species, which are under the list of rare or endangered, should not be allowed for harvesting. If Local Health Practitioner (LHP) is exclusively dependent upon the NTFPs of proposed MPCA, then care must be taken to provide alternative income generating activity for their livelihoods. Traditional uses may be regulated in the following ways:

· Consider the regeneration of plants with utmost care

while designing sustainable harvesting, as it is

the most important aspect of sustainable MPCA

management.

· Allow grazing, fuel collection, fruit and flower

collection on a rotational basis by dividing the

available area into two or more blocks (allowing

only one block at a time to be used).

· Involve local people through the joint forest

management concept. Encourage them to raise

nurseries of NTFPs that can augment income levels

of the local people.

· Identify and encourage cultivation of species suitable

to that particular area and climate by prioritizing

species based on cultivation practices and commercial

viability. Inter-cropping of NTFPs should be encouraged.

Besides, local people in MPCA areas must also

be encouraged to cultivate medicinal plants in their

kitchen garden. Initially the forest department must

provide stock and technology for the establishment

of nursery.

· Explore and provide marketing linkages to farmers

going for cultivation.

· Make buy back arrangement through Girijan

Co-operative Corporation (GCC)/ Andhra Pradesh

Forest Department Corporation (APFDC).

· Co-ordinate with other institution such as Central

Institute for Dry Land and Agriculture (CRIDA).

Role of Vana Samrakshana Samithi (VSS) in Conservation of NTFPs in Forest Areas

In areas where VSS are not present, Local Management Committees (LMCs) can be formed following the similar procedure as in VSS. These committees can be involved in fire protection and lessening the biotic interference in potential medicinal plant areas.VSS should be involved in developing nurseries of prioritized commercially viable, rare and endangered species. VSS villages must be made as model villages of Medicinal Plants Conservation. Awareness programs must be organized with the help of VSS.A local 'Village Revolving Fund' should be created to ensure the sustainability of the program.