As forests shrink, these Mumbaikars fight plant blindness

"Some plants, like ambe, neeli and peeli halad (white, blue and yellow turmeric), are a permanent fixture in my home," says Vanita, listing their benefits: blue turmeric treats asthma, white eases joint pains and yellow is an antiseptic.Drawing on an oral pharmacopeia committed to memory since childhood, she transforms roots, stems and leaves into salves, poultices and tonics at Aarey Forest.World Wildlife Day (March 3) turns the spotlight on the botanical bedrock of Vanita's healthcare system: medicinal and aromatic plants.In India, medicinal plants account for approximately 15,000 of the country's 45,000 plant species, according to the ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research.Additionally, they form the plinth of India's traditional healing systems—Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Naturopathy and Homeopathy. A 2023 survey by the Ministry of AYUSH found that 46% of rural respondents and 53% of urban respondents reported using at least one of these systems for the prevention and treatment of ailments.Yet, few people, like Thakre, go straight to the source. When city folks understand the ecology of Aarey, they lend their voice to conservation protests, pay for events and buy forest produce.By creating a market for the plants, the nonprofit generated income for adivasi people and reopened routes to the forest that started to close because of a growing dependence on store-bought foods.

Author: Joeanna.Fernandes

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