Project Update: April 2010

A community forum was organized at the Abono community hall centre. The theme was ‘The role of medicinal plants, its conservation and sustainable use'.

Among the issues discussed were forest loss, the causes and its impact on medicinal plants, the socio-economic and health benefits of medicinal plants, the need to enforce local by-laws and the roles and responsibilities of participants in ensuring medicinal plants are preserved. Participants were drawn from three communities, Abono , Abrodwum and Adwafo .

Participants expressed concern on the rate at which permits were issued by the District assembly to outsiders to fell trees and the illicit activities of chainsaw operators. They called for effective collaboration with the district assembly and the need to engage them in decision-making process.

Participants proposed 20 plant species of medicinal value that have been very useful to them since time immemorial but are rare to find, to be cultivated in the herb garden.