Piracy a major threat to NE biodiversity

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Piracy a major threat to NE biodiversity

 

By A Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Dec 15 – Bio-piracy of a number of high-value bio-

resources, comprising mostly medicinal plants and animals, has

emerged as a major threat to the rich biodiversity of the State as

well as the North-east. Regrettably, the issue has failed to draw

public attention because of lack of awareness among the people as to

the pattern and consequences of bio-piracy going on in the State.

 

The first-ever State of Environment Report, Assam-2004 released

yesterday has recorded 22 plants besides orchids, which are in the

list of bio-resources affected by bio-piracy. " Many of the plant

species are being collected every year from the region although no

data is available on the quantity of collection. Generally plants are

collected by forest- dwellers and some of them are semi-processed and

handed over to the agents of companies situated outside the region, "

the report notes. Locals involved in the business, however, get a

very small amount in return, whereas the companies are illegally

earning a lot of money at the cost of the valuable genetic resources.

The basic factors fuelling the demand for bio-piracy are the

medicinal, aromatic and other uses of the plants. " The whole plant or

parts are collected for medicinal and perfumery use, " the report

says.

 

The stem and barks of Actinodaphne angustifloia Nees are collected

for medicinal use, while the infected wood of A. malacensis Lann is

used for manufacturing essential oil. The stem and roots of

Aristolichia cathcartii HK f. ext and Asparagus recemosus Willd are

collected for medicinal uses. The stem and barks of Beilschmiedia

brandissi HK. F are widely used as a bonding agent for agarbatti. The

entire plant of Coptis teeta Wall has medicinal attributes. The seeds

of Euryale ferox Salsib are used for medicinal purposes as well as

for food. While the fruits of Illicium grifithii HK. F are used as

spice and condiments, the flowers and seeds of Mesua ferrea L. have

their use as medicinal and aromatic oil. The roots of Pothos scandes

L are used for medicinal purposes.

 

The entire plant of orchid species is generally pirated for

ornamental uses.

 

The report, prepared by the Assam Science Technology and Environment

Council (ASTEC) with support from the Environment Protection Training

and Research Institute, Hyderabad, uses the latest pressure-state-

impact-response (PSIR) methodology, the internationally recognized

method for describing the state of environment. The report

incorporates almost all the aspects of environment in 15 chapters.

The various parameters covered in the report are administrative and

ecological set-up, physical base, demography, resources like land,

water, forest, minerals, etc., disaster management, biodiversity,

agriculture and allied sectors, energy, industries, transport,

tourism and heritage, health, urban development and institutional

framework.

 

The objective of the report is to sensitize the people, the

government and its various agencies and other stakeholders to the

pressures and threats the various elements of the environment are

subjected to, and to provide the basis for making informed decisions

on what needs to be done to improve the environment through a

properly-planned development process resulting in an environmentally

clean and sound Asom.