News & Events

WWF Collaboration with Qarshi National Herb Centre

A view of the Qarshi Herb Centre

This Centre hosts all information on medicinal plants, especially on their cultivation methodology and tissue culture provides resources to develop the capacity of scientists, researchers and students. Iqbal Qarshi, Chief Executive of Qarshi Industries, has extended support on working side by side with WWF-P, on various aspects of medicinal herb conservation, training of plant collectors, establishment of herb nurseries and restoration of degraded habitats.

Communities were provided support in cultivating species of high economic returns like Apium greveolens , Ephedra gerardiana., Bonicum percicum,,Sassuria lappa, Crocus sativus, Glyceriza glabera ,Chamomila recocata.
Ethnobotany Project, WWF - P facilitates training in medicinal plants cultivation, harvesting and post harvest care and providing linkages with industry for high economic returns. Qarshi Industries provides seeds and subsidy for commercialising medicinal plants as minor crops and purchases the produce from the local communities at market rate.

Collaboration with PCSIR and NRCP

WWF- P and Medicinal and Botanic Centre (MBC) of Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), are collaborating together to increase value addition of herbal products. Under this partnership, MBC will share production and post harvest technology, lab facilities for bioassay and evaluation of active constituents and on-form technology transfer of medicinal plants. While WWF - P will share its, publications on the conservation of medicinal plants, field facilities and provide support in organising training workshops and other R&D activities regarding medicinal plants.
WWF - P, ethnobotany team is actively pursuing its conservation efforts at Ayubia National Park (ANP). For sustainable plant use through capacity building, the Natural Resource Conservation Project and WWF - P have agreed to raise environmental education levels at Gilliat. Both organisations would work together in coordinating school clubs, developing extension material, promoting field level interventions like Fuel Efficient Stoves, medicinal plants, eco-tourism and management of ANP.

Partnership with MINFAL

Recognising the effectiveness of initiating joint ventures, WWF - P and MINFAL (Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock) Islamabad have jointly decided to address, broad areas of promotion of cultivation of medicinal plants, enhancement in seed production of medicinal plants and aromatic herbs and development and dissemination of collection technology for wild plants. MINFAL will provide financial support and help in coordinating various activities. Likewise, WWF - P will provide support in community organisation and technical assistance in various activities regarding conservation and sustainable use of plant resources.

Contact:
Habib Ahmad,
wwfpsh@brain.net.pk