Growing medicinal plants under forest canopies

Growing medicinal plants under forest canopies brings numerous benefits in terms of economy, environment, and society. Below are some notable advantages:

1. Environmental Protection

• Maintaining forest ecosystems: Growing medicinal plants under forest canopies helps preserve and sustain biodiversity, prevents soil erosion, and improves soil quality.
• Efficient use of natural resources: Medicinal plants often adapt well to conditions under forest canopies, utilizing diffused light and avoiding excessive competition with forest trees.
• Reducing climate change impacts: Combining medicinal plant cultivation with forest conservation reduces greenhouse gas emissions and increases carbon sequestration.

2. Sustainable Economy

• Increasing income for local communities: Medicinal plants have high economic value, providing additional income for local people without the need for logging or deforestation.
• Developing the medicinal plant industry: These plants supply raw materials for traditional and modern medicine, meeting the growing demand for natural products.
• Lowering investment costs: Natural conditions under forest canopies (soil, humidity, and shade) are often favorable for medicinal plants, reducing the need for fertilizers and irrigation.

3. Social and Cultural Connection

• Creating local jobs: The development of medicinal plant cultivation, combined with processing and distribution activities, generates employment for local communities.
• Preserving indigenous knowledge: Cultivating and using medicinal plants helps protect traditional remedies and folk medical knowledge.

4. Agroforestry Development

• Enhancing land-use efficiency: Integrating medicinal plant cultivation with forest conservation creates an agroforestry model that efficiently utilizes forest land resources.
• Reducing deforestation: This model provides a sustainable livelihood for locals, reducing the pressure to clear forests for farming.

Popular medicinal plants grown under forest canopies in Tương Dương and Kỳ Sơn districts, Nghệ An Province:

• Job’s tears (Coix lacryma-jobi),
• Stemona (Stemona tuberosa),
• Ardisia (Ardisia silvestris),
• Golden camellia (Camellia spp.),
• Notoginseng (Panax notoginseng),
• Codonopsis (Codonopsis javanica),
• Camellia chrysantha (Camellia chrysantha).

In conclusion, cultivating medicinal plants under forest canopies not only generates economic benefits but also contributes to forest protection, sustainable development, and the preservation of traditional cultural values.