Imphal, December 09 2008: MANIPUR HAS about 1200 medicinal plants species including 420 indigenous medicinal plants and all these are set to receive a big boost with the International Conclave on Medicinal Plants for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to be held in Imphal from December 11-13 .

The big event is set to be held in the Jubilee Hall of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here.

Organised by the Department of Forest, Government of Manipur in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Government of India and AYUSH, the conclave will be graced by expert delegates from 11 (eleven) countries, informed S Singsit, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest during a press meet held in the conference hall of the Forest Department this afternoon.

The event is also being supported by World Health Organisation (WHO) India chapter, Ministry of DoNER, government of Manipur, Singsit added.

The Chief Conservator of the forest also informed that 25 (twenty-five) experts from the country including the Ministry of DoNER would be present at the conclave adding that the scenario of the state regarding the medicinal species would be brought up during the meet.

Further stating that the state has about 1200 recognised medicinal species including 420 indigenous plants, Singsit informed that a Manipur Herbal garden was being set up at the Raj Bhavan, a medicine plant conservation area at Kailam in Churachandpur, Khongampat in Imphal West and Kangkhui in Ukhrul district.

However, the chief conservator lamented that there was no record of exportation of medicinal plant from the state.

The International Conclave is being proposed to understand the emerging national and global scenario with respect to medicinal plants; review the status of medicinal plant sector in ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries; deliberate strategy for conservation, collection, cultivation, processing and marketing of commercially important plants; discuss the strategy and action plan for the optimal development of the sector; to identify areas and evolve strategy and modalities for the collaboration among ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries; to examine all aspects of IPR issues, associated with medicinal plants including their trans-boundary availability and develop road map for benefit sharing from commercial utilisation of traditional knowledge; to identify and undertake comparative analysis of options for market authorisation of medicinal plant products and to promote trade of medicinal plant products including traditional medicine.

Meanwhile, taking opportunity of the conference Singsit held it unfortunate that law enforcement concerning wild life protection was lapsed.

He, however pointed out that there was shortage of manpower in the department.

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