With a view to generating livelihood through non-forestry woods for the villagers in forest area, a symposium on policy and management was organised recently. Chhattisgarh Governor Shri Shekhar Dutt, Madhya Pradesh Forest Minister Shri Sartaj Singh, officers of Government of India, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh states took the part in the symposium organised by Madhya Pradesh Minor Forest Produce Federation. During the symposium, the speakers stressed on sending samples of medicinal plants available in the forest to the laboratory for the analysis in order to certify them for the purpose of medical treatment. Discussing about positive response of medicinal plants to the patients who were treated for various diseases, the speakers said that such medicinal plants, which have been tested in laboratory, need to be given certificates after their documentation. It was discussed that the officers should visit Kerala State and assimilate into treatment practice through medicinal plants and explore methods being applied to promote and certify the same.
During the symposium, discussions were also made on protection and commercially collection as well as marking arrangement of fruits, flowers, seeds, honey, gum, lakh and other non-forestry wood produce.