The practice of planting and preserving medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) is as old as mankind
What are MAPs
Since ancient times, humanity of all civilisations and cultures has used medicinal and aromatic plants for religious, cosmetic, therapeutic and nutritional purposes. MAPs have helped to secure mankind’s survival and have sustained the natural balance of the environment.
Between 50,000 and 70,000 plant species are known to be used in traditional and modern medicinal systems throughout the world (SCHIPPMANN et al. 2006). The World Health Organisation defines traditional medicine based on MAPs as: “the total sum of all the knowledge and practices, whether explicable or not, used in diagnosis, prevention and elimination of physical, mental or social imbalance and relying exclusively on practical experience and observation handed down from generation to generation, whether verbally or in writing.” Many medicinal and aromatic plants become extinct before they are even documented, resulting from habitat destruction and other natural and manmade ruinous influences.
Problems
With the disappearance of traditional knowledge, these highly worshiped plants risk the threat of extinction due to:
- The general unawareness of the value of MAPs in the modern world
- The substitution of synthetic rather than natural products
- The difficulty of penetrating international markets
- The lack of political and financial support
- The expansion of monoculture leading to the depletion of bio diverse habitat
- The often remote regions of MAPs and their cultivators
Our Goals
Regulation
a fair pricing for MAPs
Funding
the expansion of value added facilities in the supply chain of MAPs
Partnership
the formation of a joint cooperative of existing MAP farmers
Awareness
the participation of the general public in our ‘Foster A Plant’ program (coming soon)
Join Us
The Global Garden initiative is not only a humanitarian effort to preserve MAPs, but also a chance for planters, producers and consumers alike to invest in the most precious resource of the planet, the green gold. As to be able to change the status quo, a major rethinking has to occur, which includes a raised awareness of the potential of MAPs, their sustainable use and preservation; efficient access to MAP products and derivatives within the market with an enhanced consumer interest and demand.