The project PhytoKat in Katanga (DRC): conditions for the integration of traditional medicine in modern healthcare and a model answer against anthropogenic erosion of biodiversity

The project PhytoKat in Lubumbashi, D.R. Congo: conditions for the integration of traditional medicine in modern healthcare The D.R. Congo still faces multiple health problems. Notably the access to conventional medicine is limited; as in most Sub-Saharan countries, traditional medicine is the primary, and often the only, source of care for a majority of the population and the WHO advocates its recognition and modernization for primary health care. This pilot project aims to establish the necessary foundation for progress in this direction in Katanga: . The conditions for the introduction of traditional practices in modern medicine will be evaluated (quality of the practitioners and diagnostics; quality, efficiency, safety of treatments); . Many plants used in traditional medicine have already been documented in Katanga; certain traditional practices have been validated by the identification of active compounds. The project proposes to deepen the botanical, pharmacological, chemical and agronomic study of these interesting species; . In the context of regional erosion of plant diversity, excessive harvesting of some vulnerable medicinal species could represent a serious threat; developing a conservation strategy is urgent and requires an inventory of their current distribution. Through 5 doctoral theses in pharmacognosy, biomedical and agronomic sciences, the project will aim at correcting the weaknesses identified by the recent Joint Context Analysis, performed in R.D. Congo at DGD initiative, for the domain environment / natural resources: 'Lack of information, knowledge and awareness among decision makers and local communities on the benefits of biodiversity-related development'

The project PhytoKat in Lubumbashi, D.R. Congo: conditions for the integration of traditional medicine in modern healthcare

The project PhytoKat in Lubumbashi, D.R. Congo: conditions for the integration of traditional medicine in modern healthcare Bakari Amuri, Meerts Pierre, Vandenput Sandrine, Okombe Victor, Ngoy Edouard, Ngoy Shutcha Mylor, Kahola Tabu Olivier, Kampemba Mujinga Florence, Nkulu Fyama Jules, Duez Pierre. The D.R. Congo still faces multiple health problems. Notably the access to conventional medicine is limited; as in most Sub-Saharan countries, traditional medicine is the primary, and often the only, source of care for a majority of the population and the WHO advocates its recognition and modernization for primary health care. This pilot project aims to establish the necessary foundation for progress in this direction in Katanga: . The conditions for the introduction of traditional practices in modern medicine will be evaluated (quality of the practitioners and diagnostics; quality, efficiency, safety of treatments); . Many plants used in traditional medicine have already been documented in Katanga; certain traditional practices have been validated by the identification of active compounds. The project proposes to deepen the botanical, pharmacological, chemical and agronomic study of these interesting species; . In the context of regional erosion of plant diversity, excessive harvesting of some vulnerable medicinal species could represent a serious threat; developing a conservation strategy is urgent and requires an inventory of their current distribution. Through 5 doctoral theses in pharmacognosy, biomedical and agronomic sciences, the project will aim at correcting the weaknesses identified by the recent Joint Context Analysis, performed in R.D. Congo at DGD initiative, for the domain environment / natural resources: 'Lack of information, knowledge and awareness among decision makers and local communities on the benefits of biodiversity-related development'

The PhytoKat project in Katanga DR Congo: a multidisciplinary approach for solving environmental and societal problems

As is the case in most African countries, DR Congo faces multiple health problems, notably a limited access to conventional medicine. For most people, traditional medicine (TM) is the primary, and often the only, accessible source of care; TM covers the primary health needs of 80% of rural and urban populations who mainly rely on plants as sources of drugs. Considering the rapid population growth (3.5%/year in RDC), the demand for medicinal plants implies a risk of extinction for several species, which requires to supplement supply by agriculture, possibly family farming. The WHO advocates the modernization of TM in developing countries for primary health care to face health challenges such as malaria or infectious diseases. The PhytoKat pilot project aims to establish the necessary foundation for progress in this direction in Katanga by (i) evaluating the conditions for integrating traditional practices in modern medicine; (ii) deepening the botanical, agronomical, pharmacological and chemical studies of interesting plants; and (iii) developing, in the context of a regional erosion in plant diversity, an urgent inventory of medicinal species current distribution for a reasoned conservation strategy. Through a multidisciplinary team including agronomists, chemists, pharmacists and veterinarians, the project aims at correcting the gaps identified by the recent Joint Context Analysis, performed in DR Congo at Belgian government initiative, for the domains environment / natural resources: 'Lack of information, knowledge and awareness among decision makers and local communities on the benefits of biodiversity-related development'

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives