Medicinal Plants: Rescuing a Global Heritage

Medicinal plants are viewed as a possible bridge between sustainable development, affordable health care, and conservation of vital biodiversity. This paper outlines the importance and usage of such plants in national health care and conservation activities in selected countries--China, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka--and in World Bank development projects. The final section focuses on the strategy needs of developing countries for implementing policies on medicinal plant conservation, cultivation, processing, and marketing.