Inmedplan
The Indian Medicinal Plants Database (Inmedplan) is an initiative of the Foundation for Revitalisation of
Local Health Traditions (FRLHT). It is being developed in collaboration with several specialized national
Indian agencies involved in plant-related work. The main objective of the database is to generate reliable
multi-disciplinary information on Indian medicinal plants, and to provide useful information for various
sectors, including agriculture, the pharmaceutical industry, science, and environmentalists concerned with
the conservation of medicinal plants.
A user can request data related to her/his specific interest from any of the nine agencies that are part of
Inmedplan. The names and addresses of these agencies can be obtained from the address below. Alternatively, the FRLHT secretariat, which acts as a clearing house
for enquiries, can forward a request to the appropriate agency. FRLHT can be accessed via E-mail for this
purpose. Inmedplan hopes to provide users with on-line access to the database as soon as user demand
grows to a viable level.
For further details please contact:
J. Ravichander, Programme officer Inmedplan, FRLHT, 50, II Stage, MSH
Layout, III Main, II Cross, Ananda Nagar, Bangalore 560024, India. Tel: +91-80-3336909. Fax: +91-80-
3334167.
E-mail: ravi%frlht@bangalore.uunet.in
MPTS
The Multipurpose Tree and Shrub Database (MPTS) of the International Centre for Research in
Agroforestry (ICRAF) contains data on more than 1000 tree species in the tropics and subtropics. The
information ranges from climate and soil requirements to sources of germplasm, problems encountered in
management and cultivation, and the uses to which the species are put.
Originally, MPTS was developed to help scientists identify gaps in knowledge that could be filled through
new research. But the database has proven also to be a valuable tool for meeting day-to day requests for
information about the main species of multipurpose tree. It is called on extensively to provide information
about trees suitable for wasteland reclamation, fodder banks, medicinal purposes, and erosion control, for
example.
At present, MPTS has more than 250 registered users, most of whom are engaged in research, extension
or training. The reason for the database's success lies in the source of its data. Detailed questionnaires are
used to collect information from the literature as well as directly from sites where trees grow. In this way
a tree's performance can be linked to the exact conditions under which it grows, including climate, soil
type and form of management.
The largest section of the questionnaire deals with the species' uses. In the sections human food, fodder,
wood products, uses and services, local knowledge is supplemented with input from researchers.
Published articles, books and other sources of information are also used to supplement the content of
MPTS.
At present a new, more user-friendly version of MPTS is being developed. This ambitious project is being
carried out jointly with the Federal Research Institute for Forestry and Wood Products in Germany. An
important new feature of 'MPTS 2.0' will be that users can enter data from their own locations. The new
version, due for release in late 1994, will hopefully trigger a vigorous exchange of MPT data.
Recently a project began at ICRAF through which detailed ethnobotanical studies will be carried out. The
aim is to investigate the criteria farmers use to select species for specific purposes which they consider
important. The information from this survey will be incorporated into MPTS as well.
The current version of the MPTS database is available from ICRAF for $120. This includes a
comprehensive manual and 2nd class airmail postage.
For more information contact:
The MPTS manager, ICRAF, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya. Fax: +254-2-521001.
Southern Africa region
SARCIK is compiling a database of references on indigenous knowledge in the Southern Africa region.
(See section Communications - IK Resource centres)
Currently the database contains 629 references, most of which are from after 1980. The aim is to identify
as much published and unpublished research as possible in the form of periodicals, books, theses and
dissertations. A large portion of the references deal with traditional healing, medicine, and customary law,
but many other subject areas are also covered. The database has been established as part of a programme
to collect and document indigenous knowledge and to make it accessible to interested members of the
public.
Contact: Hans Normann, SARCIK, 110 Long Street, 8001 CapeTown, South Africa. Tel: +27-
21-242012. Fax: +27-21-232168. Email: hansn@iaccess.za