Mainstreaming Biodiversity Management Conservation into Medicinal Plants Production Processes

 

Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories are well known both for their plant diversity as well as for their role in the historic rise of agriculture. Recent surveys have confirmed the biological, economic and social importance of the many species of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) found here. A broad array of threatening processes and underlying causes is facing MAP biodiversity, including factors ranging from urbanization and poverty to the methods by which plants are being harvested. Together, these threats are having significant ecological impacts, including impacts on globally significant biodiversity. The present project proposal argues that a mainstreaming approach to MAP conservation in Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories has the potential to achieve important impacts, both on biodiversity as well as on the sustainable livelihoods and sustainable human development of the often vulnerable groups of individuals involved in this sector. It will furthermore serve as an important demonstration for the organization and mainstreaming of sustainable MAP production systems and mainstreaming of biodiversity values within this important sub-sector. The project may also provide lessons for other types of economically important plant species (EIPS).

The project goal is to secure globally significant biological resources through the rational and sustainable use of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs). The project objective is to mainstream biodiversity approaches into MAP gathering, processing and marketing that will ensure valorisation and conservation of globally significant MAP biodiversity while providing an enhanced and sustainable source of livelihood support.

Project Approach

Any meaningful conservation and cultivation efforts can only be realised if substantial financial benefits can accrue to stakeholders at the individual household level, and if conservation concerns are mainstreamed into the productive sector. There is a need to create economic incentives and a conducive legal framework.

The project will use the private sector as the main entry point. It is expected that mainstreaming sustainable use concerns in this largely informal sector will help to further develop the sector and enhance its responsibility for conserving its resource-base.

The bulk of medicinal plants used in Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories are harvested from the wild with limited replacement through cultivation. Given the increasing pressure on the wild plants, the existing open access land tenure system and the wide range of plant habits and habitats, effective conservation measures have to be implemented on a country-wide basis.

Despite the recognition of the importance of traditional medicinal plants in the health care system, they remain undervalued. This is partly due to poorly developed markets and the complexity of valuing their social and cultural roles. This acts as a disincentive to sustaining local interest and commitment to conservation, sustainable use and cultivation of indigenous medicinal plants. The project will, in complement with co-financing, develop and promote appropriate technologies and market outlets for processing MAPs.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) , the development arm of the United Nations, was designated by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as one of its three Implementing Agencies. The GEF, established in 1991, helps developing countries fund projects and programmes that protect the global environment. GEF grants support projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants.

UNDP-GEF supports the development of projects in the environmental focal areas of biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, persistent organic Pollutants and ozone depletion.

Ulrich Helberg of Helberg Consult had been assigned to develop a proposal for a methodology for production and marketing assessment in Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories.