Biodiversity loss is a growing concern worldwide as natural resources are overexploited and human populations increase. Plants are being hit hard; according to the 2020 Living Planet Report, the number of documented plant extinctions is twice as many as for mammals, birds, and amphibians combined.
The role of traditional medicine in Tanzania
In Tanzania, 60 percent of the population relies on traditional medicine as their primary healthcare option (Bishoge et al 2024). The informal economy of traditional medicine has grown significantly, putting pressure on medicinal trees that have needed urgent conservation attention for many years. But also the formal economy and modern medicine is increasingly interested in traditional plats – with growing national and international demand.
These plants are rarely cultivated and are instead harvested from forest lands. Overharvesting, deforestation, and more frequent droughts and floodings all intensify the threat of extinction. Alarmingly, frameworks around traditional medicine in Tanzania are fragmented, and the implementation of the policies and regulations that do exist is underfunded (ibid).
The MedTrees Project: a conservation effort
The MedTrees project, which was implemented throughout 2022, addressed unsustainable harvesting techniques, overexploitation of wild plant resources, the lack of regulations on harvesting, and the shortage of communication regarding the efficacy of medicinal plants. The project focused on 10 threatened native medicinal plants, promoting their scientifically proven efficacy, sustainable harvesting, and cultivation.
MedTrees established three demonstration and training sites: in Musoma, Tabora, and Dar es Salaam, including seed banks for each of the 10 species. These sites served as centers for education and training, engaging local communities and stakeholders in sustainable practices.
Engaging stakeholders for long-term impact
The project engaged experts, government bodies, traditional healers, women (who play a leading role in home healthcare), youth, agriculture and forestry extension workers, and the public in efforts to conserve medicinal plants. The goal was to promote awareness about the plants’ conservation needs and ensure their sustainable use.
Key outcomes of the MedTrees Project
The MedTrees project resulted in several key outcomes:
- Establishment of pilot sites: Three pilot sites were set up to demonstrate the cultivation of 10 medicinal plant species, along with the creation of seed banks.
- Enhanced scientific knowledge: The project improved scientific information on medicinal plants and their role in biodiversity conservation.
- Heightened awareness: The project communicated the threats to medicinal plants and the importance of their conservation to stakeholders in the traditional medicine trade, the Government, and the public.
- Policy advocacy: A policy advocacy campaign was launched to highlight the role of medicinal plants in biodiversity conservation and healthcare, pushing for regulations on their harvesting.
Project partners and funding
MedTrees was a collaborative effort that included partners from the Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI), INADES Formation Tanzania, MUHAS University, MAVUNO Improvement for Community Relief and Services, and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF).
This one-year-project was funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) with 2 million SEK and successfully implemented from January to December 2022.