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Islandwide campaign to preserve local medicinal plants

by Florence Wickramage

An islandwide campaign to preserve local medicinal plants using local knowledge to protect bio-diversity; and the planting of trees particular to the area concerned will be launched at the Environmental Week observations mooted by a non-governmental organisation, the Rural and Community Development Co-operation.

Sri Lanka has an ancient Ayurvedha system which has been admired the world over. Many of the indigenous medicinal herbs and plants are found in the country's strict nature reserves such as Ritigala.

The program to protect the country's existing forest cover and reforestation of denuded forest patches will also be undertaken during the week.

A spokesman for the organisation told the Daily News that in addition to the tree planting campaign the home-gardens concept will be emphasised with attention focussed on growing food crops like jak, breadfruit, coconut, mango, and goraka.

With awareness created on the importance of self-sustenance the organisation hopes to enlist the support of the youth to plant minor export crops, medicinal plants, fruit trees and trees connected with forest vegetation such as ebony, nadun, teak and burutha. They will also be assisted in the task of finding plants and seeds inherent in the area.

The organisation has laid special emphasis on the cleanliness of the environment, protection of the ozone layer, solid waste management and conservation and protection of soil and water in the week-long activities scheduled for Environment Week.

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