Looking for the potential economic value of traditional medicinal plants: Experience in working with the orang asli in Malaysia

Lim Hin Fui, . and Norini Haron, . and Norshakila Yusof, . and Intan Nurulhani Baharuddin, . and Zainon Abu Samah, . and Musaadah Mustapha Forest Research Institute Malaysia, . (2010) Looking for the potential economic value of traditional medicinal plants: Experience in working with the orang asli in Malaysia. [Proceedings Paper]

It is widely recognised that the forest-dependent communities have traditional knowledge on the use of medicinal plants. However such knowledge is gradually eroding and lost as a result of modernization and development. Such traditional knowledge is known to have potential in developing various herbal pharmaceutical health care and bio-technological products for the benefits of society at large. Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan FRIM was entrusted the responsibility by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to conduct a study to establish a database on traditional medicinal and aromatic plants used by the Orang Asli in Malaysia. The research is to be conducted in line with the requirements of Convention on Biodiversity CBD of which Malaysia is a party. CBD is a legally binding international treaty that commits its Parties to the triple objective on conserving biological diversity using natural resources sustainably and fairly and equitably sharing benefits deriving from the use of genetic resources. Materialising the economic value of medicinal plants used by the Orang Asli in Malaysia will take some time. The research team in FRIM has succeeded in laying the foundation to get the main stakeholders to work together. The first part of research had achieved its objectives and the specimens collected will be analyzed. The second part of materialising the economic value of medicinal plants is product development in the future. To achieve this closer collaboration between multiple parties namely local community knowledge holders the Department of Orang Asli Affairs administrator for Orang Asli affairs state forestry department the forest resource managers FRIM research and development scientists and herbal/drug companies the investors is important.

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Abstract

It is widely recognised that the forest-dependent communities have traditional knowledge on the use of medicinal plants. However such knowledge is gradually eroding and lost as a result of modernization and development. Such traditional knowledge is known to have potential in developing various herbal pharmaceutical health care and bio-technological products for the benefits of society at large. Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan FRIM was entrusted the responsibility by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to conduct a study to establish a database on traditional medicinal and aromatic plants used by the Orang Asli in Malaysia. The research is to be conducted in line with the requirements of Convention on Biodiversity CBD of which Malaysia is a party. CBD is a legally binding international treaty that commits its Parties to the triple objective on conserving biological diversity using natural resources sustainably and fairly and equitably sharing benefits deriving from the use of genetic resources. Materialising the economic value of medicinal plants used by the Orang Asli in Malaysia will take some time. The research team in FRIM has succeeded in laying the foundation to get the main stakeholders to work together. The first part of research had achieved its objectives and the specimens collected will be analyzed. The second part of materialising the economic value of medicinal plants is product development in the future. To achieve this closer collaboration between multiple parties namely local community knowledge holders the Department of Orang Asli Affairs administrator for Orang Asli affairs state forestry department the forest resource managers FRIM research and development scientists and herbal/drug companies the investors is important.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Summary En
AGROVOC Term:	A
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:14
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/11484

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