MSSBG’s Resource focus and Action Framework
The Garden adopts a ‘4C’-Framework where the C’s represent Conservation, Cultivation, Consumption and Commercialization, which operates in a cyclic manner, to promote the paradigm of sustainable genetic resource management. By engaging and empowering the ‘custodian farmers and conservers’ to apply this ‘4C’ framework, MSSBG proposes to demonstrate sustainable utilization of four key sectors of biodiversity such as crop diversity, curative diversity (medicinal plants), culinary diversity (traditional and wild food plant diversity) and the Rare-Endemic-Threatened (RET) tree species of the Malabar region.
“The 4-C Framework to advocate local community for safeguarding and sustainably utilizing the Culinary- Curative-Crop-diversity of the Malabar region and to inspire the society an ethic of conservation to deal with challenges of Climate Change”.
The hilly region of Malabar lies in the global biodiversity hotspot of Western Ghats, which is one of the rich centres of endemic, endangered biodiversity and cultural diversity of the country. Many locations of the Malabar region are continually facing severe pressures, largely due to conversion or degradation of habitats of biodiversity for alternate land uses, which demands focused attention on conserving the biological and crop diversity of the region.
The developmental strategy of MSSBG
Malabar Region being a hotspot of Bio-Cultural Diversity of India, the botanical garden in the region is pertinent for the biodiversity Conservation, Education and Recreation. MSSBG implicated these aspects with the foundation of decades of research activities. The development of the new phase focuses on the strategy developed from the lessons learned from the past 20 years of experience in the area of conservation of PGRs and Garden management, the research gaps in the subject area of management of biocultural heritage as related to human health and nutrition, improving climate resilience in reference with protection of the culinary and curative diversity of the region. It ensures the dynamic conservation of biodiversity on a larger scale through MSSRF’s 4-C framework, partnership building between scientists, conservation groups, community leaders and policy makers on different aspects of natural and cultural diversity management, strengthening of Field Gene Bank networks of Wayanad to promote conservation, sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity. There is a scientific team for developing effective communication materials and disseminating to convey the innovations and unique strength of the Garden.
The new phase will adopt a holistic approach in conservation of biological and crop diversity with consolidation of the key achievements made by MSSRF. The Garden will be operated in an integrated manner where species are actively conserved through Farmer-Scientist settings in partnership with the “Custodian Farmers” present within 10-20 Km radius of the Central Garden.
The strategic areas of the garden will emphasis on (i) plant science with evidence-based studies on various aspects of conservation biology and ethno-biology (ii) education to promote conservation, enhancement, sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity (iii) recreation that aims to facilitate the partnership between the public and scientists in sharing socio-economic, technical and technological aspects of biodiversity management.