Paris polyphylla (local name 'satuwa'; Family 'Trilliaceae/Melanthiaceae'), a high-valued and highly traded medicinal plant is in gradual depletion, owing to untimed collection, unscientific harvesting methods and low germination/high mortality rates. Still the plant is in high trade, thanks to the growing market demand and high buying/selling rate. However, the benefits of collection from the wild are not reaching the poor. The weak supply chain between collectors, cultivators and producers and the non-incorporation of the value addition techniques is causing the widening difference between the local and regional market. Realizing the immediate intervention measures to be taken, this project is proposed to involve communities in direct conservation work, thus conserving the plant in-situ and ex-situ and to enhance livelihoods of local communities by strengthening supply chain and incorporating value addition techniques.

The project will undertake two major activities to reach the objectives. To enhance conservation, communities will be involved in direct conservation work through five sub-activities (home herbal garden, school garden program, cultivation in community forest, conservation group formation and revitalization of TK). Another objective of improving livelihoods will be achieved through four sub-activities (plant processing and value addition, sustainable harvesting training, strengthening supply chain and production of herbal tea).

Participatory community involvement is the key technique employed in this project. There's a saying, "if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others". We selected this approach to ensure the long term sustainability and management of the selected species. For the long term conservation, local people should be taken into confidence and a large portion of economic benefits should be given to locals. Unless communities take the ownership, conservation efforts are not sustainable. Besides the immediate conservation outputs, this project will build a strong link with local stakeholders for the long term monitoring and sustainable conservation of Paris polyphylla.