KATHMANDU, APRIL 12
Minister for Forest and Environment, Gita Chaudhary, has underscored the need of conserving biodiversity and plants, and utilizing forest products to generate employment.
In her address to the National Plant Day event in the federal capital today, Minister Chaudhary viewed the conservation of biodiversity was linked to food security, employment and economic development. However, it is worrying to see growing impacts of climate change owing to human activities.
Environmental degradation and depletion of plant draw equal concern, she said, adding that timely intervention is necessary for protection. "Nepal is rich in biodiversity. Herbs and non-wood plant count much for our economy. For it, tradition of exporting these in raw form needs ceasing," she underscored.
According to the Minister, scientific cultivation of herbs, processing, branding and competition in international market would be effective for us to fetch rewarding income. Collaboration among government and private sector for research and innovation is further helpful in this bid. Even the collaboration with international research institutions could be explored in view of the potential of medicinal herbs in Nepal.
Minister Chaudhary also drew the attention of concerned stakeholders on intellectual right, geographical symbol and registration associated to the branding and quality production of herbs.
