This project will be carried out with general aim to contribute to conservation of wild medicinal flora at the area of Deliblato Sands, Serbia. Being very floristically rich, with easy accessible terrains, this area is under high pressure of overexploitation of medicinal plants, which today can be a source for livelihood of local residents. To use and conserve medicinal plants effectively, it is important to know precisely which the species are concerned, what are their correct names and where they grow. In many cases medicinal plants have been mis-identified, or called differently by local people. Throughout vegetation survey, the identification of medicinal plants, detection their habitats and localities, and evaluation of the ecological status of their natural populations (distribution, abundance, population size) will be done in order to make a list of medicinal plants of the area along with their ecological status.

Another contribution of our project will be documentation on ethnopharmacological data: by interviewing of local people involved in collection and usage of medicinal plants, we will collect data on the part of the plant used for medicinal purposes and how those are collected (period of collection, phenological phase), usage in medicine, traditional or otherwise; pharmacological potential as the implication for extent of collection. After recognition of over-exploited plants (especially of those where reproductive plant parts are collected), the special attention will be given to raise the awareness for their protection and conservation.

Both approaches, botanical and ethnopharmacological will give an insight on degree of vulnerability of wild medicinal flora, the need for conservation of species, habitats, potential for cultivation of particular species.

By organizing a public event on the theme of preserving the wild medicinal flora, we will introduce the local residents with the potential of natural resource in their area in order to increase their awareness for more careful collecting and developing cultivation techniques for particular species.

For further information contact zorica.popovic@ibiss.bg.ac.rs