Achievements and future activities of collecting and planting of medical and aromatic plants

Abstract

Based on the analysis it is evident that the biodiversity richness of Bosnia and Herzegovina is extremely large. It represents not only a national richness, but also an exceptional development potential that should be used for sustainable development and on responsible way. Since long time ago, the focus has been on the collection of wild medical herbs from nature, which only a small number of producers bought and export mainly as raw material. With an increasing trend in the use of food, cosmetic, medical and pharmaceutical products on a natural basis the demand for plant raw materials is enhancement, which leads to increasing the number of processors of medical and aromatic plants. Increased interest in plant raw materials lead to excessive and uncontrolled explotation of natural resources. That is the reason to emphasize the importance of collecting wild plants according to the principles of good collection practice by applying biodiversity protection measures. Bosnia and Herzegovina has extremely favorable climatic conditions for organic and conventional production of medical and aromatic plants. If the producers are encourage for this activity it will ensure a continuous supply of sufficient quantities of medical and aromatic plants for the domestic and foreign markets. Also it will prevent the disappearance of certain plant species that have been brought to the edge of existence. This was one of the reasons why the nongovernmental organizations helped the interested local resident to focus their activities on planting medical and aromatic plants. Now in Bosnia and Herzegovina there are a large number of areas cultivated with various medical and aromatic herbs, as well as some plant species that until recently could only be found as wild. Some of them are: lemon balm, peppermint, chamomile, calendula, yellow gentian, yarrow, thyme, perforate St John's-wort, sage, immortelle, lavender.