Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture for Medicine, Health, and Food

ผู้ดูแลระบบ — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 05:00:22 +0000

Monnipha Sila-asna
Ahnond Bunyaratvej

Abstract

In mid-year 2011, the world population was increased to 7 billion. The rising fi gure of world population is estimated to be 8 billion in 2025 and 9.0 billion people in the year 2050. The overgrowth will be the critical threshold for biological chaos in future. The chaotic consequences include deteriorated environment,
insuffi cient supply of food, insuffi cient medication for people, and lack of or poor quality shelter. Furthermore, diseases, disaster, starvation and poor sanitary are all negative consequences. Deforestation and urbanization destroyed biodiversity leading to natural disaster. Combination of at least two disciplines; medical science and agriculture might be the solution to this issue. The agricultural strategy is integration among biodiversity of ecology, plants and land for agriculture. Agriculture for medicine, health and good quality food will be the good direction of economic development with the solution of overgrowth of world population. Biodiversity provide complete trace elements from plants to human to fulfill good health condition. Research for value addition and value chain of plants products from rich resources of plants could then be of importance for adequate health system and food at global level in future. This article aims at creating model of combination between primitive wisdom and the newly advance knowledge of agriculture and medical science. An attempt of integrating agriculture, biodiversity and health in medical science, following the philosophy of suffi ciency economy, is
proposed in this article.

Keywords: Agriculture, Biodiversity, Food, Health, Medicine, Sustainability, Sufficiency economy

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Biodiversity in Thailand

ผู้ดูแลระบบ — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 06:00:24 +0000

Visut Baimai
Fellow of the Royal Institute, Academy of Science
Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok

Abstract

Thailand is a relatively small country, but she is rich in biodiversity, comprising approximately 6 -10% of the total species known thus far. In the past, 70% of the total land area was covered with various kinds of tropical forests
providing terrestrial and aquatic habitats for life forms in complex ecosystems. This natural biology that surrounded the local community has influenced the development of folklore, cultural diversity and traditional knowledge. Such local wisdom has been perpetuated by being passed down from generation to generation. The Thai people lived peacefully and sustainably, surrounded by the balanced and green environment, for many centuries until the 1960s, when the Thai government launched the first National Economic and Social Development Plan. Such modernization in industry and agriculture accompanying globalization trends in capitalism and unsustainable development led to deforestation and environmental problems, including climate change and global warming. As a consequence, there has been a tremendous loss of biodiversity and ecosystems. Many species have become endangered and some are at critical population levels and prone to extinction if action is not taken to save them. Such loss of biodiversity is likely to have tremendous effects—often unpredictable—on the productive lives of all living things including ourselves. A basic knowledge of these living things is needed in order to facilitate conservation and management and to better understand how to use biological resources in a sustainable manner. Therefore, the Special Program for Biodiversity Research and Training (BRT) was established in November, 1995, under the joint sponsorship of TRF and BIOTEC, to support basic research in tropical biology as well as studies on policy development and management of biodiversity in Thailand.

Key words: biodiversity, culture, traditional knowledge, conservation, natural capital, sustainable development.

Biodiversity – ราชบัณฑิตยสภา

Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture for Medicine, Health, and Food

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Biodiversity in Thailand

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