Preventing Extinction: How Makali Beru is Making a Comeback

Makali Beru: The Endangered Wonder Root

The medicinal plant makali beru or swallow root was on the verge of extinction due to overharvesting from forests in Karnataka. However, the forest department is now helping farmers to cultivate this endemic species. Saplings and training on cultivation techniques are being provided to farmers in Chamarajanagar district where makali beru was found earlier. Here is a comprehensive analysis of Makali beru and Its Conservation efforts by the UCN Team to give you the key concepts and insights.

The Forest Dept. aim is to prevent illegal harvesting of the roots from forests and generate revenue for farmers by selling the cultivated produce. Makali beru is used widely in Ayurvedic medicine and pickling.

About Makali Beru

Key Takeaways: Makali Beru – An Endangered Medicinal Plant
SectionsDetails
Makali Beru: An Endangered Medicinal Plant
  • Scientific name: Decalepis hamiltonii
  • Endemic to peninsular India
  • Grows in forests of Karnataka, AP, TN
  • Tuberous roots used in Ayurveda and pickling
  • Listed as Endangered due to overharvesting
Recent Efforts to Save Makali Beru
  • Illegal harvesting reduced wild populations
  • Karnataka Forest Dept providing saplings, training on cultivation techniques
  • Aims to stop unsustainable extraction from forests
  • Engaging local communities to grow the plant on farmlands
Significance of These Conservation Efforts
  • Preventing extinction of endemic, traditionally used medicinal plant
  • Promoting sustainable use of biodiversity
  • Preserving indigenous medical knowledge
  • Reducing human-wildlife conflict via alternate livelihoods
  • Encouraging community participation in conservation
Key Takeaways
  • Overexploitation pushes species to extinction
  • Multi-stakeholder participation vital for conservation
  • Traditional knowledge needs preservation and sustainable use
  • Biodiversity conservation interlinks environment, healthcare, livelihoods

Scientific Name and Description

The scientific name of makali beru is Decalepis hamiltonii. It is a large, creeping woody vine that contains milky latex which is sticky. The branches are jointed and have swollen nodes.

The leaves are opposite, shiny, egg-shaped and around 7 cm long. The yellow flowers are small, around 3mm, and arranged in branched clusters. The fruits are cylindrical, around 5 cm long.

Distribution and Habitat

Makali beru is endemic to peninsular India, especially the forests of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It grows in rocky slopes and crevices in dry and moist deciduous forests.

Uses

The tuberous roots of makali beru are used as a cooling agent and blood purifier in Ayurvedic medicine. They are used to make refreshing drinks and pickles.

The roots are used to treat indigestion, cough, skin diseases, thirst, vomiting, chronic rheumatism, anemia, debility etc. They contain beneficial compounds like antioxidants, flavonoids, alkaloids etc.

Conservation Status

Due to overharvesting from forests over decades, makali beru has become rare and is now classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Efforts to Prevent Extinction

Realizing that makali beru was being rapidly depleted, the Karnataka Forest Department has stepped in to prevent its extinction.

  • The department is providing free saplings of makali beru to farmers in Chamarajanagar district along with training to cultivate this species.
  • The cultivation of makali beru on farmlands will prevent people from illegally harvesting the roots from forests.
  • It provides farmers an alternative crop to sugarcane and cereals which are often raided by wild animals.
  • The department is using funds from royalty payments by Ayurvedic companies to provide saplings and training.

Significance of Makali beru Conservation

It’s clear to the UCN team that the efforts to save makali beru from extinction have important dimensions as follows:

Conservation of endemic species

  • Overharvesting pushes endemic species like makali beru to extinction
  • Need sustainable cultivation to reduce pressure on wild populations
  • Ex-situ conservation through farming, banks etc

Sustainable use of biodiversity

  • Makali beru shows value of traditional knowledge about medicinal plants
  • Such knowledge should be preserved and used sustainably
  • Access and Benefit Sharing provisions under CBD encourage such sustainable use

Role of traditional medicine

  • Makali beru highlights role of medicinal plants in traditional medicine systems
  • India has extensive indigenous medical knowledge that needs to be promoted
  • Integration with modern medicine can provide affordable healthcare

Human-wildlife conflict

  • Makali beru provides farmers an alternative crop to reduce crop raids by animals
  • Reduces retaliatory killing of wildlife while supporting livelihoods
  • Needs proactive policies to provide attractive alternate livelihood options

Community participation in conservation

  • Cultivation of makali beru involves forest dept and local communities
  • Such participation essential for conservation initiatives to succeed
  • Decentralized, bottom-up approaches ensure long-term sustainability

The case of makali beru thus provides insights into key issues related to conservation, medicinal plants, human-wildlife dynamics, traditional knowledge, sustainable development etc.

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UCN Team: Combining expertise in UPSC Exams and Tech to deliver high-resolution, insightful content for aspiring civil servants

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