The utilisation and conservation of medicinal plants in Malaysia: an overview

This paper highlights the status of utilisation and conservation of medicinal plants in Malaysia and suggests some conservation measures in order to ensure long term sustainable use. Medicinal plants are recognised as one of the important components of the tropical rain forest. Research activities on utilisation and conservation of this valuable non-timber forest product have become intriguing subjects of discussion in many tropical countries. The practice of traditional medicine using medicinal plants from tropical rain forests still persists despite the advancement of modern medicine. Currently the interest in utilisation and conservation of medicinal plants is. rapidly increasing. However, the current status of its management and conservation in terms of resource supply and distribution, utilisation, harvesting, trade, and silviculture is still unclear. In Malaysia, .the practice of utilisation of medicinal plants varies with different races , income, education levels, religions and spiritual believes. Most of the medicinal plants used by the majority, particularly the Malay practitioners, are gathered from the forest. Imported medicinal plants have also been widely used in traditional medicines. Without proper regulations on management and conservation of medicinal plants, the sustainable harvest of medicinal plants from the forest would be reduced in the future. As a result, this may lead to resource depletion and may impose ~ high social cost for the future generation. Increasing demand for medicinal plants in the future will reduce apparent viability of the industry due to high investment cost in management and conservation. Given that the utilization and conservation of medicinal plants are important activities in the coming decade, the government should consider long term economic incentives to conserve this valuable non-timber forest product. The use of economic instruments and other incentives such as re gulations and public education are vital towards achieving sustainable forest management practices.