In addition to government initiatives, several national and international organizations are actively involved in different parts of India to promote awareness, documentation and conservation strategies for medicinal plants. Several NGOs are working in the areas of conservation and developing cultivation strategies. The international development and research centre has initiated a Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Programme in Asia (MAPPA) which promotes collaboration through national and international networks. It also promotes research on approaches to sustainable production and processing of medicinal plants.

The volume of developmental activity as a result of governmental initiatives is complemented by the pioneering work being carried out in individual states towards promotion and enhancement of the medicinal plant sector in their regions. Apart from the state medicinal plant boards that are implementing the board’s directives, efforts to conserve, sustain and effectively utilize the medicinal plant wealth within each state are being undertaken by several governmental and nongovernmental agencies that include

• Forest research institutes
• Research programmes of agriculture and medical – governmental, autonomous and deemed – universities
• Government departments of agroforestry
• Traditional medicine practitioners’ forums
• Private charitable trusts
• Registered societies
• Educational institutes with departments in Botany, Medicinal Chemistry, Biotechnology and Phytochemistry
• Departments of selected Indian Institutes of Technology
• Government-run traditional medicine manufacturing units
• 7,000-unit strong Herbal Drug Industry in India manufacturing traditional medicines with or without standardization.

Selected establishments, both governmental and NGOs, making significant contributions in this sector are listed below statewise.