The interviewee hails from a village in India where their upbringing was deeply intertwined with plants, as their grandparents and mother possessed extensive knowledge about various plant species and their medicinal properties. They were taught numerous proverbs and traditional remedies related to plants, but unfortunately, much of this inherited wisdom has been lost due to the displacement of tribal communities from forests.
Upon attending the University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology in Bengaluru, the interviewee recognized an opportunity to document this vanishing knowledge. As a field botanist, they conduct botanical surveys in forests across India, collaborating with local communities and traditional medicine doctors to identify and study the cultural significance of plants.
Their team collects seeds and, on rare occasions, stem cuttings, adhering to a rule-of-thumb that only one seed should be collected for every thousand observed, ensuring sustainable practices. They have successfully developed and documented techniques to propagate nearly 800 wild species from seed and have created an ethnomedicinal garden spanning 20 acres, showcasing the diverse range of plant species used in traditional health practices.
Their goal is to promote the appreciation of medicinal plants as not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing, encouraging their use in urban landscapes. In Bengaluru, for example, they have advocated for the planting of native trees, which not only provide shade and improve air quality but also support local biodiversity. This initiative has grown into a native-plant landscaping business at the university, catering to clients within the professional community.
The interviewee expresses great satisfaction in knowing that their work will have a direct positive impact on the local community and environment, ultimately contributing to global wellness.
