Rukararwe Partnership Workshop for Rural Development Conservation of Rare Medicinal Trees: Experiences from Rukararwe of in South Western Uganda Nyine.

Rukararwe PartnershipWorkshopfor Rural Development

Conservation of Rare Medicinal Trees:Conservation of Rare Medicinal Trees: Experiences from Rukararwe of in South Western Experiences from Rukararwe of in South Western

UgandaUganda

Nyine Bitahwa, RUKARARWE PWRD, Uganda

Anke Weisheit, ICRAF/ Mbarara University, Uganda

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

Rukararwe PWRDRukararwe PWRD

Rukararwe Partnership Workshop for Rural Development (RPWRD)

FARMERS

ARTISANS

WEAK

YOUTHHEALERS

SHOOLS

WOMENRPWRD was established in 1986, and, among several other activities,it promotes the use of traditional medicine and conserves the environment.

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

TRADITIONAL HEALERSTRADITIONAL HEALERS

The project established an association of traditional and western-trained healers since 1988.

Currently, the association is composed of 170 healers.

It operates a clinic on a daily basis where herbal remedies are administered to patients.

About 2.400 patients per year are treated.

The association holds 15-20 seminars per year and refresher courses to healers which include traditional birth attendants, simple methods of hygiene, preservation dissemination and recording of herbal medicine

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

Collaboration RPWRDCollaboration RPWRDwith ICRAFwith ICRAF

Collaboration since 2003

Ethics: contract of confidentiality with scientist (Anke Weisheit)

Worked in collaboration

Domestication of woody medicinal species

Trainings for herbalists Improvement of herbal

remedies Documentation

Documentation of Traditional Healing

practice

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

Rehabilitation of LOST forestRehabilitation of LOST forest

The institution will strengthen conservation and documentation initiatives

Before After 15 years

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

PropagationPropagation

Germplasm collection with healers

Generative Propagation trials

Vegetative propagation trials

Production of tree seedlings

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

Herbal Garden Establishment Herbal Garden Establishment

For experiments and demonstrations

•Trimming experiment (like tea trees)for maximum leaf harvest

Plant Species Number•Aloe vera 682 •Vernonia amygdalina 663 •Sesbania sesban 80 •Moringa oleifera 39•Spathodea campanulata 61•Eriobotrya japonica 50 Aloe

Sesbania

Vernonia

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

TrainingTraining

Propagation and tree nurserymanagement

Sustainable harvest and handling

Documentation

Processing

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

Herbal Medicine ProcessingHerbal Medicine Processing

Reduction of processing loss

Slightly improved processing

Constrains:Constrains:

Production not GMP conform

Hard working conditionDifficulties of exact

measuring

Cosmetic Processing

Herbal Medicine Dryer

GMP = Good Manufacturing Practice

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

Herbal Medicine ImprovementHerbal Medicine Improvement

Better Packing

More patient friendly

Better measurement of dosage

Saver use (Color coding)

Moving from polythene bag to film tube… to cream jar

March 2003 August 2003 June 2004 January 2005

Future

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

Prunus africanaPrunus africana as firewood and charcoal!!!as firewood and charcoal!!!

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

Alternative housing technologiesAlternative housing technologies

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

Successes Successes

Enlarging the existing herbal forest (130 trees species planted)

Conservation through aforestation is possible

Collaboration with western and African traditional health practitioners possible

Exposure of good practice of traditional healing

Networking countrywide and international recognition

Publication – Tropical Doctorand local Newspapers

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

New Product DevelopmentNew Product Development

Rucos Herbal Skin Care is made of natural locally available raw materials

Contain only natural ingredients

No artificial preservatives

Use only locally / nationalavailable materials

Constrains

Preservation for longer shelf lifeMarketing costs and strategies Initial production fundingMore diversity in products

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

Activities in FutureActivities in Future

The Institution will establish relevant seminars, workshops and short courses on topics of interest. This will be open for everyone interested.

A curriculum will be developed for the institution to offer diplomas and degrees at different levels.

Traditional medicine will be a recognized system which will adequately contribute to the country’s Primary Health Care system

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

Activities in Future Activities in Future cont.cont.

Set-up processing unit which is GMP conform

Mobilising outgrowing of needed medicinal species and training farmers in the cultivation

Improvement in post harvest handling

Clinical Trials (WHO Guideline for Traditional Medicines)

Alternative housing technologies which can improve the health conditions, savethe environment and affordable

RPWRD

Bushenyi

&

ICRAF

UGANDA

BushenyiUganda

ChallengesChallenges

Present legislation does not recognize TM

Fundraising will be a major challenge.

Widespread stigmatization of Traditional medicine

Lack of interest from funding agencies

Lack of good processingequipment

Future training needed in nursery

management

Future In-patient clinic

Rukararwe PartnershipWorkshopfor Rural Development

Contacts:

Nyine Bitahwa (Director)Rukararwe Partnership Workshop for Rural Development (RPWRD) P.O. Box 275 BushenyiUgandaMob: +256-772-339953email: [email protected]: www.rukararwe.kabissa.org

Anke Weisheit, ICRAF- Uganda, P.O. Box 26416, Kampela, UgandaMbarara University, Faculty of Dev. Std, P.O. Box1410, Mbarara UgandaMob: +256-772-888096email: [email protected] Web: http://www.worldagroforestry.org