SASUSG

Members of the International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP) coalition invite you to Go Wild at an event at the 4th World Conservation Congress to discuss the new standard for the sustainable wild collection of medicinal and aromatic plants THURSDAY 9TH OCTOBER 20089:30-11:00 Room 125/P1. Pr

More than 50,000 species of wild-collected medicinal and aromatic plants contribute to health and livelihoods worldwide. Over-collection of many species, combined with habitat loss, threatens this resource. The herbal products industry, resource management agencies, and collectors' organizations are seeking the knowledge, tools, and incentives to extend good practices (such as organic and fair-trade sourcing) to include sustainable wild collection of plants used in traditional medicines, herbal products, and other non-timber plant products. The new ISSC-MAP, created by an industry-conservation-community-government partnership, is currently being implemented in field projects around the world through certification, regulatory/permit systems, non-detrimental trade of species included in Appendix II of CITES, and voluntary codes of practice. The short film Healing Power from Nature opens this session with the voices and views of local collectors of medicinal and aromatic plants from around the world.

Key issues: "Will consumers support certification of sustainable wild collection for plants used in commercial herbal remedies? Will the herbal products industry voluntarily adopt a sustainable wild collection standard? How will a sustainable wild collection standard support shared management of wild plant resources by governments and communities? What are the challenges and benefits of sustainable wild collection of MAP for collectors and community-based organizations?”

For details contact: Dr Danna J Leaman, Chair, IUCN-SSC Medicinal Plant Specialist Group ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).