Kathmandu: Minister for Forest and Environment, Gita Chaudhary, has underscored the need to conserve biodiversity and plants, and utilizing forest products to generate employment.
In her address to the National Plant Day event in the federal capital today, Minister Chaudhary viewed the conservation of biodiversity as linked to food security, employment and economic development.
However, it is worrying to see the growing impacts of climate change owing to human activities.
Environmental degradation and depletion of plant resources draw equal concern, she said, adding that timely intervention is necessary for protection. “Nepal is rich in biodiversity. Herbs and non-wood plants count much for our economy. For it, the tradition of exporting these in raw form needs to cease,” she underscored.
According to the Minister, scientific cultivation of herbs, processing, branding and competition in the international market would be effective for us to fetch rewarding income. Collaboration between the government and the private sector for research and innovation is further helpful in this bid. Even the collaboration with international research institutions could be explored in view of the potential of medicinal herbs in Nepal.
Minister Chaudhary also drew the attention of concerned stakeholders to intellectual rights, geographical symbols, and registration associated with the branding and quality production of herbs.
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