Good Food is First Food. It is not junk food. It is the food that connects nature and nutrition with livelihoods. This food is good for our health; it comes from the rich biodiversity of our regions; it provides employment to people. Most importantly, cooking and eating give us pleasure. …
The present study comprises of field trips in different rural localities of Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala. Information regarding the occurrence of plant species, their local names, parts ued, formulations and vegetable preparations through interviews and discussions held with elderly persons of rural communities were recorded. The plant specimens …
Livelihood pattern of the people of an area is directly influenced by the local biodiversity. Biodiversity is essential for human survival and economic well-being, and for the ecosystem function and stability. Over exploitation and biodiversity loss affects livelihood and food security of the local. People change their livelihood strategies as …
Survey was conducted in randomly selected 23 villages of the Baria forest division. A systematic questionnaire was prepared and based on it question were asked to the tribals. From the survey, 94 species were identified which are being used as folk medicine by the tribal people of Baria division.
Approach to conserve biodiversity for sustainable development should be targeted at different levels, from improving living standards to changing the attitude of people. If Himalayan medicinal plants are to continue to serve the needs of the people without being reduced to a dangerously unstable resource base, they have to be …
Pachmarhi biosphere reserve is one of the richest biodiversity regions of Madhya Pradesh. Various weeds are abundant in the croplands as well as in the forests of this region.
A large area of the Nilgala forest reserve in Bibile which is considered the only natural forest of medicinal plants in Asia has been ablaze for about two days. The residents of the area said more than 1000 acres had already been destroyed. Nilgala forest reserve is about 64,000 acres …
North-western Himalayan region with its wide range of altitudes, topography and climatic conditions, is a rich repository of medicinal wealth, which occupies an important place in Vedic treatise. More than 800 no. valuable medicinal species found in this part of India is extensively used by the locals since time immemorial …
We were staying in a small coastal town of Karwar in Karnataka, about seven kilometres from south of Goa. My two-year-old daughter was not able to acclimatise. I was giving her anti-allergics and antibiotics, but she kept catching cold. One day, my friend in Karwar, Megha Gaonkar, told me about …
Several assets of Unani medicine are available in different languages, includ- ing Urdu, Persian and Arabic. These literary assets are easily accessible and are thus susceptible to misappropriation. The Unani system of medicine is being exploited for bio-prospecting. It is often misappropriated because it is assumed that being in public …
Picrorhiza (Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth.) is a small, perennial herb widely used in traditional as well as modern system of medicine. This plant grows in Himalayan region at elevations ranging from 3000 to 5000 m above the sea level and listed as endangered species due to extensive extraction of …
The way paan is associated with India, a Chaurasia is associated with paan. But both the equations are changing, said Lalta Prasad Chaurasia, spitting blood red betel juice into an elegantly designed brass spittoon. The 58-year-old is among the last generation of Chaurasia farmers in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh …
Read this special report by Down To Earth on the iconic Paan losing its appeal. Its trade has dipped 40-50 per cent in the past decade, while consumption of chewing tobacco, especially gutkha, increased during the period. Farmers now prefer other crops. Iconic paan no more appeals to farmers, traders …
RAMPANT ILLEGAL harvesting and trade in a wild plant endemic to the Western Ghats called narakya (Mappia foetida), which has anti-cancer properties, has made it an endangered species. The tree is being exploited clandestinely in the domestic market and also shipped abroad. The profit potential is enormous, as the alkaloid …
The destruction of forests leads to the destruction of valuable medicinal herbs, and therefore it is necessary to protect the forests and preserve the herbal species, said T.V. Manjunatha, District Forest Officer (DFO), Vellore, here on Tuesday. Inaugurating an exhibition on medicinal herbs and a seminar on Indian Alternative Systems …
A new molecule from curcumin, a chemical component of the golden-hued Indian spice turmeric, helps build brain cells after stroke, research has found. Turmeric is used in curries and for the rich colour it imparts to food. Turmeric also has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine. Paul A. …
Biodiversity park starts functioning at Kakkavayal Kozhikode: With its exquisite collection of rare plant species, on 111.4 hectares, the Vanaparvam biodiversity park, which started functioning at Kakkavayal here on Thursday, is expected to give an impetus to eco-tourism initiatives in the district. The setting of the park will attract casual …
Many important and rare medicinal and aromatic herbs are on the way of extinction in Uttarakhand. This is creating major problems for the people and commercial enterprises working in the sphere of Ayurveda in the State. According to information provided by reliable sources, at least 600 medicinal and aromatic herbs …
