Karnataka Biodiversity Board has taken some bold initiatives for the conservation and sustainability of local medicinal plants. In this connection, it has launched a registry which documents the efforts of the Biodiversity Management Committee at village levels. A key focus of the registry is the preservation and documented evidences of local medicinal plants and health traditions. So far 51 Committee details are compiled.

In addition, the Board has also identified six Biodiversity Heritage Sites in Karnataka. These six sites are at Cycas Cirinallis at Melkote, Mandya district. The region is known for the 'Cycas Cirinallis' has medicinal properties to control vata, pitta, pain, inflammation, swelling, flatulence, vomiting, over perspiration, burning sensation and general debility. The second site is the Netrani Island which is a botanical paradise in Uttara Kannada district. The third site is located at Shravanatheertha at Savanal village, Melanthabettu Grama Panchyat, Belthangady taluk, Dakishna Kannada district. The remaining are at Shravanagunda, Indabettu village and Grama Panchyath, Belthangady taluka, Dakishna Kannada district. Sahasralinga Naagabana, Gundimajalu, near Bangado, Indabettu village and Grama Panchyat, Belthangady taluk, Dakishna Kannada district. Kasrolo Naagabana at Navoor village, Indabetti Grama Panchyat, Belthangady taluk at Dakshina Kannada District.

Efforts are on to identify more sites. Guidelines are also being devised for the identification of rare plants and species, stated Dr PL Gautam, chairman, National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai at the workshop on Local Traditional Knowledge related to Biodiversity, organized by the Karnataka Biodiversity Board.

Dr Gautam stated that states were facing the challenge of saving the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants for the future. India is one among the 17 countries which bagged the Mega Biodiversity Status in spite of having only 2.5 per cent of the world's land and four per cent of the water resource. With the availability of many rich plant resources known for its medicinal benefits, there is need to protect the processes and products of the native healers, he added.

According to DK Ved, director, Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions, (FRLHT) a lot has been done to document and assess medicinal plants vis-à-vis codified system of Indian System of Medicine or Ayurveda. It has identified 1,540 species referring to linkages of Ayurveda medicine. So far FLLHT has been able to compile the database of 4600 plants which is over three times what has been assessed, he added.

"Karnataka has formulated the biodiversity strategy and an action plan as part of the National Biodiversity efforts. The biodiversity action plan and 2010 target focus on key issues like conservation of species and sustainability of medicinal plants," stated Meera Saksena, principal secretary, Forest Ecology and Environment department and chairman Karnataka Biodiversity Board.