JOHANNESBURG, Oct 12: India and South Africa have called for stronger cooperation in conserving medicinal plants and protecting traditional knowledge, with officials highlighting the growing threat to indigenous plant species from overharvesting, climate change and illegal trade.
The issue was discussed at a symposium organised by the Indian Consulate in Durban, which brought together experts in AYUSH systems of medicine from both countries to explore opportunities for collaboration in traditional healthcare.
Narend Singh, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, delivered the keynote address, emphasising the shared commitment of the two nations to protecting genetic resources and ensuring that the benefits derived from traditional knowledge are distributed fairly.
He said both countries had worked towards developing frameworks that recognise rights, promote fairness and ensure equitable sharing of benefits associated with genetic resources and indigenous knowledge.
Singh stressed that the present generation has a responsibility to preserve biodiversity and ensure that natural resources remain available for future generations.
According to the South African National Biodiversity Institute, 262 indigenous plant species, representing approximately one-tenth of the country’s plant species, are used in traditional medicine. However, increasing demand for herbal remedies is placing mounting pressure on natural habitats.
Singh warned that growing urban demand for medicinal plants has exceeded what can be sustainably supplied from the wild. Excessive harvesting, prolonged droughts, climate change, poverty and illegal commercial activities have further intensified the challenges facing conservation efforts.
Referring to South Africa’s 2024 Red List of threatened plants, he highlighted concerns about the future of medicinal species that are increasingly vulnerable to extinction.
Singh cited 154 commonly used medicinal plants whose genetic resources are threatened by overexploitation, calling for immediate measures to prevent further depletion.
He emphasised that the loss of medicinal plants would also undermine the traditional healing practices and knowledge systems that depend on them.
Singh urged communities, researchers and policymakers to move beyond discussions and adopt practical conservation measures. These should include cultivating medicinal plants, restoring depleted resources and ensuring that harvesting practices allow species to regenerate naturally.
He said genetic resources and their gene pools must be managed responsibly to maintain biodiversity and protect the long-term availability of traditional medicines.
Deputy High Commissioner of India to South Africa Banu Prakash highlighted South Africa’s rich heritage of traditional knowledge associated with medicinal and aromatic plants.
She said the popularity of herbal products in the country had been noteworthy and reflected the potential for greater exchanges between the two nations.
Prakash also appreciated the South African government’s efforts to plant millions of trees in recent years, while encouraging greater attention to species that could support Ayurvedic medicine and related traditional healthcare practices.
The symposium also explored how traditional systems of medicine could contribute to broader public health objectives.
Shobhit Kumar, a research officer specialising in Ayurveda in the Health and Family Welfare Vertical at NITI Aayog, said India’s approach was not to position traditional medicine against modern healthcare.
Instead, he stressed the importance of integrating different medical approaches where appropriate to improve public health outcomes and advance universal health coverage.
Kumar said traditional systems and allopathic medicine could complement each other in addressing healthcare needs and expanding access to treatment.
The discussions underscored the importance of combining scientific research, traditional expertise and environmental protection to ensure that medicinal plants remain available for future generations.
Greater cooperation between India and South Africa could also create opportunities to exchange knowledge, strengthen conservation practices and promote the sustainable use of plant-based resources.
The symposium highlighted a common challenge for both countries: preserving the natural foundations of traditional medicine while meeting growing demand for herbal products and protecting the indigenous knowledge associated with their use.