'Grow medicinal plants, not eucalyptus, acacia'
Two women take care of medicinal plants cultivated in Pachish Mile area in Madhupur upazila of Tangail yesterday.Photo: STAR
Speakers at an awareness programme in Madhupur upazila under the district yesterday urged the government to take steps for planting medicinal plants instead of eucalyptus and acacia in Madhupur forest to preserve its biodiversity. Although locals have already caused a great deal of damage to the traditional sal forest including its medicinal plants and biodiversity, they can contribute to its revival if awareness is created, they said at the programme in Pachish Mile area in Madhupur upazila. As part of campaign for organic cultivation, popularisation of medicinal plants in home treatment and employment generation through their cultivation and marketing, non-governmental organisation Society for Protection of Medicinal Plant and Environment (SEMP) arranged the programme in Pachish Mile area in Madhupur upazila in cooperation with Oxfam GB. The campaign aims at increasing awareness about the use of medicinal plants for quality treatment and promoting income generating activities through cultivation and marketing of the plants, the speakers said. Revival of near extinct species of medicinal plants and their large-scale cultivation can contribute greatly to primary health care, especially for the poor people, they said. Madhupur Assistant Conservator of Forest Rajesh Chakma, Joinshahi Unnayan Parishad President Ugene Nokrek, village herbal practitioner Khagendra Dibra, and medicinal plant cultivators Ishak Bangali of Sherpur and Nirmola Hadima of Madhupur addressed the programme presided over by SEMP Chairman Robi Khan. The delegates at the programme distributed medicinal plants among local students. A photo exhibition on climate change by artist Mohammad Shaju and an exhibition of eatable foods and medicinal plants of sal forests were also arranged on the same venue. Mymensingh-based organisation Mati screened a film show on climate change at the ending session of the programme.
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