Conservation Efforts of an Important Medicinal Plant (Taxus baccata Linn.) in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh (India)

Gibji Nimasow; Oyi Dai Nimasow; Jawan Singh Rawat; Leki Norbu

doi:doi:10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11

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Conservation Efforts of an Important Medicinal Plant (Taxus baccata Linn.) in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh (India)

Gibji Nimasow, Oyi Dai Nimasow, Jawan Singh Rawat, Leki Norbu

Published in Earth Sciences (Volume 4, Issue 3-1)

Received: 5 January 2015 Accepted: 10 January 2015 Published: 3 March 2015

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Abstract

Taxus is a small to medium sized tree, with red ‘berries’ (seed covered by arils), valuable for taxol or paclitaxel extraction used in the preparation of anti-cancer drugs (breast cancer and ovarian cancer), kaposi’s sarcoma (an AIDS related cancer) and over 20 such other indications. It is an evergreen tree found in the temperate forests with an altitude ranging between 1500 m to 3000 m. The worldwide demand of the taxol is 800–1000 kg annually. Around 2 to 3 million kg of biomass is harvested annually where as the sustainable rate of harvesting is estimated to be 0.6 million kg per year. Although, the endophytes isolated from the Taxus when cultured in the medium are found to grow taxol, but the rate is very low. The maximum occurrence and high exploitation of Taxus has been reported from West Kameng district of Arunahal Pradesh, until the prohibition on its export through listing under Negative Lists of Exports by Government of India in 1996. Random linear transacts in the deep forests recorded a total of 145 Taxus plants. Out of which, 105 are dead trees and only 38 are live plants. Among the 38 live plants 20 are seedlings, 14 are saplings and 4 are full grown trees – one each near Sanglem and New Bomdila and another two between Ramda and Palizi. Therefore, conservation efforts like workshops, seminars, talks, distribution of pamphlets, pasting of posters and mass plantation has been organized by involving the villagers. The study attempts to explore the current status of Taxus in the aftermath of large scale trade occurred during 1990s and generate community awareness for conservation and regeneration of the important medicinal plant.

Published in	Earth Sciences (Volume 4, Issue 3-1) This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation of Taxus Spp. (Yew)
DOI	10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11
Page(s)	1-10
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Conservation, Taxus, Cancer, Taxol, Workshops

References

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APA Style

Gibji Nimasow, Oyi Dai Nimasow, Jawan Singh Rawat, Leki Norbu. (2015). Conservation Efforts of an Important Medicinal Plant (Taxus baccata Linn.) in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh (India). Earth Sciences, 4(3-1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11

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ACS Style

Gibji Nimasow; Oyi Dai Nimasow; Jawan Singh Rawat; Leki Norbu. Conservation Efforts of an Important Medicinal Plant (Taxus baccata Linn.) in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh (India). Earth Sci. 2015, 4(3-1), 1-10. doi: 10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11

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AMA Style

Gibji Nimasow, Oyi Dai Nimasow, Jawan Singh Rawat, Leki Norbu. Conservation Efforts of an Important Medicinal Plant (Taxus baccata Linn.) in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh (India). Earth Sci. 2015;4(3-1):1-10. doi: 10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11

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@article{10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11,
  author = {Gibji Nimasow and Oyi Dai Nimasow and Jawan Singh Rawat and Leki Norbu},
  title = {Conservation Efforts of an Important Medicinal Plant (Taxus baccata Linn.) in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh (India)},
  journal = {Earth Sciences},
  volume = {4},
  number = {3-1},
  pages = {1-10},
  doi = {10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.earth.s.2015040301.11},
  abstract = {Taxus is a small to medium sized tree, with red ‘berries’ (seed covered by arils), valuable for taxol or paclitaxel extraction used in the preparation of anti-cancer drugs (breast cancer and ovarian cancer), kaposi’s sarcoma (an AIDS related cancer) and over 20 such other indications. It is an evergreen tree found in the temperate forests with an altitude ranging between 1500 m to 3000 m. The worldwide demand of the taxol is 800–1000 kg annually. Around 2 to 3 million kg of biomass is harvested annually where as the sustainable rate of harvesting is estimated to be 0.6 million kg per year. Although, the endophytes isolated from the Taxus when cultured in the medium are found to grow taxol, but the rate is very low. The maximum occurrence and high exploitation of Taxus has been reported from West Kameng district of Arunahal Pradesh, until the prohibition on its export through listing under Negative Lists of Exports by Government of India in 1996. Random linear transacts in the deep forests recorded a total of 145 Taxus plants. Out of which, 105 are dead trees and only 38 are live plants. Among the 38 live plants 20 are seedlings, 14 are saplings and 4 are full grown trees – one each near Sanglem and New Bomdila and another two between Ramda and Palizi. Therefore, conservation efforts like workshops, seminars, talks, distribution of pamphlets, pasting of posters and mass plantation has been organized by involving the villagers. The study attempts to explore the current status of Taxus in the aftermath of large scale trade occurred during 1990s and generate community awareness for conservation and regeneration of the important medicinal plant.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Conservation Efforts of an Important Medicinal Plant (Taxus baccata Linn.) in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh (India)
AU  - Gibji Nimasow
AU  - Oyi Dai Nimasow
AU  - Jawan Singh Rawat
AU  - Leki Norbu
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PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11
T2  - Earth Sciences
JF  - Earth Sciences
JO  - Earth Sciences
SP  - 1
EP  - 10
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5982
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11
AB  - Taxus is a small to medium sized tree, with red ‘berries’ (seed covered by arils), valuable for taxol or paclitaxel extraction used in the preparation of anti-cancer drugs (breast cancer and ovarian cancer), kaposi’s sarcoma (an AIDS related cancer) and over 20 such other indications. It is an evergreen tree found in the temperate forests with an altitude ranging between 1500 m to 3000 m. The worldwide demand of the taxol is 800–1000 kg annually. Around 2 to 3 million kg of biomass is harvested annually where as the sustainable rate of harvesting is estimated to be 0.6 million kg per year. Although, the endophytes isolated from the Taxus when cultured in the medium are found to grow taxol, but the rate is very low. The maximum occurrence and high exploitation of Taxus has been reported from West Kameng district of Arunahal Pradesh, until the prohibition on its export through listing under Negative Lists of Exports by Government of India in 1996. Random linear transacts in the deep forests recorded a total of 145 Taxus plants. Out of which, 105 are dead trees and only 38 are live plants. Among the 38 live plants 20 are seedlings, 14 are saplings and 4 are full grown trees – one each near Sanglem and New Bomdila and another two between Ramda and Palizi. Therefore, conservation efforts like workshops, seminars, talks, distribution of pamphlets, pasting of posters and mass plantation has been organized by involving the villagers. The study attempts to explore the current status of Taxus in the aftermath of large scale trade occurred during 1990s and generate community awareness for conservation and regeneration of the important medicinal plant.
VL  - 4
IS  - 3-1
ER  -

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Author Information

Gibji Nimasow

Department of Geography, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Oyi Dai Nimasow

Department of Botany, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Jawan Singh Rawat

Department of Geography, Government Degree College, Chaukhutia, Uttarakhand, India
Leki Norbu

Department of Geography, Government College, Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh, India

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Gibji Nimasow, Oyi Dai Nimasow, Jawan Singh Rawat, Leki Norbu. (2015). Conservation Efforts of an Important Medicinal Plant (Taxus baccata Linn.) in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh (India). Earth Sciences, 4(3-1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11

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ACS Style

Gibji Nimasow; Oyi Dai Nimasow; Jawan Singh Rawat; Leki Norbu. Conservation Efforts of an Important Medicinal Plant (Taxus baccata Linn.) in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh (India). Earth Sci. 2015, 4(3-1), 1-10. doi: 10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11

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AMA Style

Gibji Nimasow, Oyi Dai Nimasow, Jawan Singh Rawat, Leki Norbu. Conservation Efforts of an Important Medicinal Plant (Taxus baccata Linn.) in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh (India). Earth Sci. 2015;4(3-1):1-10. doi: 10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11,
  author = {Gibji Nimasow and Oyi Dai Nimasow and Jawan Singh Rawat and Leki Norbu},
  title = {Conservation Efforts of an Important Medicinal Plant (Taxus baccata Linn.) in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh (India)},
  journal = {Earth Sciences},
  volume = {4},
  number = {3-1},
  pages = {1-10},
  doi = {10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.earth.s.2015040301.11},
  abstract = {Taxus is a small to medium sized tree, with red ‘berries’ (seed covered by arils), valuable for taxol or paclitaxel extraction used in the preparation of anti-cancer drugs (breast cancer and ovarian cancer), kaposi’s sarcoma (an AIDS related cancer) and over 20 such other indications. It is an evergreen tree found in the temperate forests with an altitude ranging between 1500 m to 3000 m. The worldwide demand of the taxol is 800–1000 kg annually. Around 2 to 3 million kg of biomass is harvested annually where as the sustainable rate of harvesting is estimated to be 0.6 million kg per year. Although, the endophytes isolated from the Taxus when cultured in the medium are found to grow taxol, but the rate is very low. The maximum occurrence and high exploitation of Taxus has been reported from West Kameng district of Arunahal Pradesh, until the prohibition on its export through listing under Negative Lists of Exports by Government of India in 1996. Random linear transacts in the deep forests recorded a total of 145 Taxus plants. Out of which, 105 are dead trees and only 38 are live plants. Among the 38 live plants 20 are seedlings, 14 are saplings and 4 are full grown trees – one each near Sanglem and New Bomdila and another two between Ramda and Palizi. Therefore, conservation efforts like workshops, seminars, talks, distribution of pamphlets, pasting of posters and mass plantation has been organized by involving the villagers. The study attempts to explore the current status of Taxus in the aftermath of large scale trade occurred during 1990s and generate community awareness for conservation and regeneration of the important medicinal plant.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Conservation Efforts of an Important Medicinal Plant (Taxus baccata Linn.) in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh (India)
AU  - Gibji Nimasow
AU  - Oyi Dai Nimasow
AU  - Jawan Singh Rawat
AU  - Leki Norbu
Y1  - 2015/03/03
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11
T2  - Earth Sciences
JF  - Earth Sciences
JO  - Earth Sciences
SP  - 1
EP  - 10
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5982
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2015040301.11
AB  - Taxus is a small to medium sized tree, with red ‘berries’ (seed covered by arils), valuable for taxol or paclitaxel extraction used in the preparation of anti-cancer drugs (breast cancer and ovarian cancer), kaposi’s sarcoma (an AIDS related cancer) and over 20 such other indications. It is an evergreen tree found in the temperate forests with an altitude ranging between 1500 m to 3000 m. The worldwide demand of the taxol is 800–1000 kg annually. Around 2 to 3 million kg of biomass is harvested annually where as the sustainable rate of harvesting is estimated to be 0.6 million kg per year. Although, the endophytes isolated from the Taxus when cultured in the medium are found to grow taxol, but the rate is very low. The maximum occurrence and high exploitation of Taxus has been reported from West Kameng district of Arunahal Pradesh, until the prohibition on its export through listing under Negative Lists of Exports by Government of India in 1996. Random linear transacts in the deep forests recorded a total of 145 Taxus plants. Out of which, 105 are dead trees and only 38 are live plants. Among the 38 live plants 20 are seedlings, 14 are saplings and 4 are full grown trees – one each near Sanglem and New Bomdila and another two between Ramda and Palizi. Therefore, conservation efforts like workshops, seminars, talks, distribution of pamphlets, pasting of posters and mass plantation has been organized by involving the villagers. The study attempts to explore the current status of Taxus in the aftermath of large scale trade occurred during 1990s and generate community awareness for conservation and regeneration of the important medicinal plant.
VL  - 4
IS  - 3-1
ER  -

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