Ethnobotanic Resources of Tropical Montane Forests: Indigenous Uses of Plants in the Cameroon Highland Ecoregion

Chapter 11 - Development Paths for Indigenous Plants

223 Chapter 11 Development Paths for Indigenous Plants Summary Developing countries possess a wealth of indigenous knowledge on plants. This knowledge has since colonialisation been on a downward spiral to a decline due to the bias in the demand for plant resources by Europeans. The research and development of genetic resources favoured the interest of colonial masters. After independence the demand for foreign exchange continued to be biased towards the production of few crops. It is now evident that tropical forest offer opportunities for new genetic resources. The concluding chapter examines the mains problems in the development of these indigenous plant resources. These problems include biogenetic erosion, conservation issues, bioprospection and biopiracy and biological and physical stresses resulting from human-related and climate-related environmental processes. It finally identifies the sustainable development path for indigenous plants. Key Words: Indigenous plants, indigenous knowledge, genetic resources, active ingredients, biopiracy, bioprospection. Introduction The biological and agricultural diversity of the afro-montane eco-region is crucial to sustaining human livelihoods. This is why we must strive to maintain and conserve these indigenous plant resources. The foregoing chapters demonstrate that poor people in developing countries are particularly dependent on continued biodiversity. The great wealth of plants and animal species is the basis for their livelihoods, their food supply and – through medicinal plants – their health. Article 2 of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) of the United Nations (UN) defines biological diversity quite prosaic as “the variability among living organisms from all sources, including inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part, this include diversity within species and ecosystems”. It is the term given to the variety of life on earth. It is the combination of life forms and their interactions with one another, and with the physical environment that has made earth habitable for humans. Ecosystems provide the basic necessities for life, offer protection from natural disasters, and disease, and 224 are the foundation for human culture. CBD calls for biodiversity to be protected and used sustainably and for the benefits arising from such use to be shared equitably. This convention is the first multi-lateral agreement to combine environmental and development goals. It thus seeks to ensure that developing countries benefit from the use of their biodiversity, for example, when new pharmaceutical products are developed. This chapter examines the major concerns in the development of indigenous plants and indigenous knowledge systems in developing, traditional societies. It finally identifies the sustainable development path and the scope for cooperation at international level to enhance benefits and the productivity of these genetic resources. Concerns about Biodiversity Loss The services provided by a healthy and biodiverse ecosystem are the foundation for human well-being. However, out of the 24 ecosystem services assessed by the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment, 15 are in decline. These include the provision of freshwater, marine fishery production, the number and quality of places of spiritual and religious value, the ability of the atmosphere to cleanse itself of pollutants, natural hazard regulation, pollination and the capacity of agricultural systems to provide pest control. Major causes for the continuing loss of species diversity are destructive extraction, over-exploitation, land use change, climate change and the suppression of native species by newly introduced invasive species. There is often insufficient incentive to use biological diversity sustainably, for example, managing a forest sustainably rather than cutting it down. The increasing industrialisation of agriculture also takes place at the expense of biodiversity. Agricultural subsidies, natural disasters and wars contribute too, to the disappearance of plants and animals. There is need to awaken political will to halt biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. There is an urgent need to clearly demonstrate to policy makers and society at large the full contribution made by biodiversity to poverty alleviation efforts and national economic growth. Decision on the conservation and use of biodiversity must involve the population of the communities concerned. This is important because people will not accept conservation measures and regulations unless they have a fair share in the profits arising from the use of their biodiversity. 225 Using Native Plants to Alleviate Hunger Native fruits and vegetables are a largely untapped resource that could combat malnutrition and boost environmental stability and rural development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Science institutes, policy makers, nongovernmental organizations and individuals could all use modern horticultural knowledge and scientific research to bring these “wild crops” to their full...