Unsustainable collection and unfair trade? Uncovering and assessing assumptions regarding Central Himalayan medicinal plant conservation

摘要: The trade in medicinal plants for herbal remedies is large and probably increasing. has attracted the attention of scientists development planners interested impact on plant populations potential to improve rural livelihoods through community based management conservation. This resulted a number publications activities, ranging from small NGO projects new government policies. Through review 119 references Nepal, 4 common assumptions regarding collection have been identified: I. commercial resource base becoming ever more degraded as consequence collection; II. are an open-access resource; III. Cultivation can contribute conservation commercially collected species; IV. Medicinal harvesters cheated by middlemen. frequency documented, their empirical support evaluated, consequences presence discussed. It concluded that backing weak, some reviewed use logically flawed argumentation. argued leading misguided efforts, inclusive approach central Himalayan species briefly outlined.