Report of Medicinal Plants Conservation Campaign, Kanji Village, 30th September to 2nd October 2006

By Tsewang Gonbo

Members of the campaign group that visited Kanji

1. From the Ladakh Society for Traditional Medicine (LSTM):
Thupstan Chosazng, Project Coordinator, LSTM
Tsewang Gonbo, Secretary, LSTM
Amchi Gyurmet Namgyal
Konchok Tsering, Assistant Amchi, LSTM
2. From Nomad RSI:
Calum Blaikie, Researcher, Nomad RSI
Ms Fanny Jamet, Programme Director, Nomad RSI
3. From Plantlife International:
Alan Hamilton, Manager of the Plant Conservation and Livelihoods Programme

On the morning of 30th September 2006 the team left Leh at 7.45 am and reached the end of the road passable for vehicles at 1.30 pm after a few stops on the way for tea and breakfast. As the horses and donkey were waiting for the team, we were able to start walking soon thereafter at 2.00 pm with all the required equipment loaded on donkeys and horses. In less than one hour we found ourselves in Kanji village.

Kanji is located at a distance of 155 km from Leh in a very remote, secluded and hidden valley. Although the main economy of the village is agriculture (as with most places in Ladakh), tourism has become a substantial means of livelihood for many; a number of trekking routes in Ladakh pass through the village. Most trekkers are attracted by the unique floral diversity of the area. The development of trekking has increased the pressure on the plants of this area, including the destruction by the horses and donkeys of the trekking parties. 2004 witnessed the first visit of a commercial trader in medicinal plants to Kanji.

Given that this village is likely to be connected by road within a year (thus opening up access to the outside world), the present time is clearly right to strengthen the management of medicinal plants at Kanji to secure their conservation and ensure their sustainable use.

LSTM has been attracted to work at Kanji mainly because it is home to many types of medicinal plants used by amchis. On the basis of the increasing pressure on both the medicinal and aromatic, and general flora of the area, LSTM felt the importance of creating awareness about conservation of medicinal plants among the population.

Soon after having a well-deserved rest in Kanji's community center, a meeting of the campaign group with village leaders was fixed for 7.00 pm. The villagers including their resident amchi proved very welcoming and every arrangement was made for the stay of the visiting team. After a satisfying tour of the village, the time soon arrived for the evening meeting. A detailed explanation of the purpose of the visit was provided to the village leaders and a programme fixed for the following day. It was decided to hold an amchi medical camp during the daylight hours, with the awareness-raising meeting to follow later in the evening and at night.

It has always been an ideal of LSTM and Nomad to integrate its activities designed to reinvigorate amchi medicine in Ladakh with others to increase awareness of the need for conservation of medicinal plants. This is because the vigour of amchi medicine is dependent, in part, on the ready availability of the plants.

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Amchi Gyurmet Namgyal, assisted by Amchi Konchok Tsering and a local amchi (Amchi Gyatso), treated about 50 patients during the medical camp. Many of the patients treated complained of eye problems. Given that the total population of the village is 300, a high proportion of the villagers received medical attention during the camp, which is accordingly regarded as one of the most successful camps conducted by LSTM during the last 4-5 years.

While the medical camp was proceeding, other members of the campaign team walked around the area, visiting several spots known for their medicinal plants. As it was late autumn, only a few plants were still flowering, with a few more still visible as withered remnants. These provided at least a few signs of the richness of Kanji as a hot spot in Ladakh for medicinal plants.

It is not always easy to interest everyone in the villages visited by the team in the project's objectives of raising awareness of medicinal plants. However, what has proved very useful - and used again at Kanji - is to show videos to the villagers and provide also some other entertainments, rather than just lecturing them about conservation. So, the evening began at 7.00 pm with some video shows, including some musicals and also one with a message by H.H. the Dalai Lama concerning the amchi system of medicine.

Tsewang Gonbo, Secretary of LSTM, then made a brief introduction about LSTM's aims and objectives, including the purpose of the current visit to Kanji. He described the previous and current project activities of LSTM, such as the training of new amchis, the publication of a newsletter on amchi education, various seminars and workshops, and the current campaign to raise awareness about conservation of medicinal plants, including in remote and far flung areas. He added that the society's activities are designed to directly or indirectly improve the health of the population, in both rural and urban areas.

Secretary Gonbo also focused on the growing pressure on medicinal plants and, indeed, on plants in general. He noted some of the reasons for this increasing pressure such as increased commercial harvesting related to a worldwide trend towards alternative medicines with herbal ingredients. Plants are also being used for the production of cosmetics and other products in ever greater amounts. Plants found in cold deserts (as around Kanji and in Ladakh generally) can be targeted particularly, because of their high contents of active principles. Therefore, there is an urgent need to strengthen the conservation of medicinal plants in Ladakh.

While commenting on the video message of H.H. the Dalai Lama, Karma Namgyal (Project Coordinator of LSTM) stressed the need for the plants that are required by the amchi to be available in the necessary quantities and qualities. His message was that amchi medicine needs to maintain its standards, as does any system of systematic medicine.

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Amchi Gyurmet Namgyal highlighted the need for conservation of medicinal plants making reference to traditional amchi texts. He outlined the history of this holistic medical system and its direct links with medicinal plants. He described how this system of medicine has developed over the centuries and spread around the world. Amchi medicine is becoming increasingly popular internationally, further emphasizing how important it is to maintain the availability of the plants.

Deciding on measures to strengthen the management of medicinal plants depends on having a knowledge of their availability and threatened status. Establishing these facts requires good quality information, especially that of interested local people such as amchis, shepherds and farmers. The visiting team showed a short video film describing the medicinal uses of plants, how they are named locally and scientifically, and where they can be found in terms of places and habitats as a warm up to a practical exercise by the villagers to follow.

This exercise involved dividing the villagers into groups, which were then asked to make sketch maps of their village and list the types of plants found in various places. They were asked to provide information on the altitudes, habitats, local names and availability of the plants. Following this, the local amchis present at the workshop identified the medicinal plants among the general lists of plant species, as had been listed by the villagers.

Altogether, the gathering listed 200 species of plants, 80 of which were subsequently classified as medicinal. According to this exercise, most of these species are found in abundance at Kanji, but three types, known locally as Wangbolakpa, Bonkar and Solokarpo, were said to endangered according to the remarks made by the villagers. It would not seem unlikely that, if present trends continue, then these three species could disappear from Kanji.

One of the participating villagers was a highly respected local amchi, Tsewang Norphel. He rose to speak at the conclusion of the meeting, warning the house that, unless timely steps are taken, then more and more plants of the area will discontinue to exist locally. He urged the village to formulate local regulations to prevent indiscriminate harvesting. He also mentioned a Medicinal Plants Conservation Committee that has already been formed at Sapi, another village in Ladakh. Sapi is a place regarded as particularly rich in medicinal plants in Ladakh. The Sapi committee came into existence at Sapi following a visit by the LSTM project team earlier in the year.

Thupstan Choszang concluded the evening by thanking the villagers for their hospitable and welcoming attitude. With this, the team expressed their satisfaction on the overall success of the campaign in Kanji.

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