When discussing India’s wildlife, we often picture forests filled with animals. However, India’s  greatest natural strength may be its diverse plant life.

This year, World Wildlife Day, with the theme “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods,” encourages us to recognize the value of plant diversity. Wildlife includes not only animals, but also the plants that heal, preserve traditions, and support millions of livelihoods across India.

A Nation Rooted in Biodiversity

India is one of the world’s leading biodiversity centers, spanning the Himalayas, Western Ghats, deserts, and coastal wetlands. The country has 16 agro-climatic zones, 10 vegetation zones, and hundreds of unique habitats. Nearly 45,000 plant species grow here, representing almost 20% of global plant diversity, with over 8,000 species classified as medicinal.^[1]

For centuries, these plants have provided healing, shaped traditions, and supported communities. Tulsi grows in courtyards, Ashwagandha in fields, and Jatamansi and Kutki on Himalayan slopes. India’s forests, covering nearly 17 million hectares, are home to medicinal and aromatic plants that are central to Ayurveda and other traditional systems.^[2]

However, this biodiversity also brings responsibility. Many valuable species have become rare due to over-harvesting. In response, the Government of India has implemented targeted measures to conserve and promote medicinal plants sustainably.

From Conservation to Cultivation

The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), under the Ministry of Ayush, is implementing a Central Sector Scheme on “Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants.” The goal is to protect plant diversity while enabling farmers and communities to benefit from it.

The scheme, approved in 2008 and expanded during the Twelfth Five-Year Plan with an outlay of ₹450 crore, continued until March 2021. It has been extended through 2025–26 with a renewed outlay of ₹322.41 crore. This ongoing support demonstrates a sustained commitment to conserving medicinal plants and promoting sustainable cultivation.^[3]

The scheme supports training programs, workshops, and awareness campaigns nationwide. Between 2020 and 2025, 139 projects were approved to promote cultivation, backed by significant financial investment. Farmers receive quality planting material through Regional-cum-Facilitation Centres and are trained in Good Agricultural Practices and sustainable harvesting methods.^[4]

The policy also strengthens the entire supply chain by supporting post-harvest management, value addition, quality testing, and certification. Through the e-CHARAK mobile app and web portal, farmers can access market prices, connect with buyers, and increase transparency. The platform is available in local languages to ensure information is accessible to all users.

Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), financial assistance is available to expand the cultivation of short-duration medicinal plants. In regions such as the Northeast, Himalayan states, and tribal areas, higher levels of support are provided to promote inclusive growth.

The Botanical Survey of India has documented thousands of medicinal species and traditional knowledge within tribal communities. Institutions nationwide are studying the properties of medicinal plants and their potential in cancer research, immunotherapy, and chronic disease treatment. Scientific validation supports both conservation and global credibility.

Clear Targets and How Stakeholders Can Participate

Conservation efforts are guided by clear targets. A key priority is establishing and strengthening Medicinal Plants Conservation and Development Areas (MPCDAs) to protect species in their natural habitats. Additional focus areas include promoting quality planting material through nurseries and developing herbal gardens in schools, homes, and institutions.

Both in-situ conservation, which protects plants in forests, and ex-situ cultivation, which grows rare and high-demand species outside their natural habitats, are supported. Sustainable practices are promoted through Good Agriculture and Collection Practices (GACPs), improved supply chains, and enhanced post-harvest management, including drying, processing, and storage.

Livelihood generation is a key component. Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs), Panchayats, Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) receive support to set up basic facilities for drying, cleaning, grading, storage, and small-scale processing of medicinal plants. This helps reduce post-harvest losses, improve quality, and enable communities to earn better prices through collective marketing.

Eligible stakeholders, including State Forest Departments, universities, research institutions, NGOs, and JFMCs/BMCs, may apply for project-based financial assistance by submitting proposals to the National Medicinal Plants Board. Proposals are evaluated for technical feasibility and financial viability to ensure conservation goals are practical and impactful.

Future Priorities

Future efforts aim to further strengthen conservation while improving income opportunities for communities living near forest areas.

Conservation zones will be expanded and resources increased. There will be a stronger emphasis on quality and standardisation, using scientific tools such as DNA barcoding for plant authentication. Post-harvest infrastructure, including drying, storage, and processing facilities, will be improved to increase market value.

Digital integration will expand, with broader use of the e-CHARAK platform to connect cultivators, traders, and institutions. Awareness initiatives, including home and school herbal gardens, will continue to promote understanding at the grassroots level.

The long-term vision is to protect India’s medicinal plant wealth, ensure quality and sustainability, and create steady livelihood opportunities, so conservation and community prosperity advance together.

Health, Heritage and Livelihoods

Global demand for plant-based medicines and wellness products continues to rise. India’s medicinal plant exports reach major markets including the USA, Germany, France, and Japan. The expanding international herbal market creates new opportunities for farmers, researchers, and entrepreneurs.

Ultimately, this is not only a story of biodiversity, but also of people. Farmers are choosing to cultivate Ashwagandha rather than over-harvest forests. Tribal communities are preserving traditional knowledge. Scientists are validating ancient wisdom, and policymakers are building systems that link conservation with income.

India’s biodiversity strength lies not only in its numbers, but in its ability to transform natural wealth into sustainable health, heritage, and livelihoods for current and future generations.

^[1] https://www.actahort.org/members/showpdf?booknrarnr=576_28

^[2] https://www.actahort.org/members/showpdf?booknrarnr=576_28

^[3] https://ngo.ayush.gov.in/Default/assets/front/documents/RevisedCentralSectorSchemeforNMPB_July2023.pdf

^[4] https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2209245&reg=3&lang=2