Gulsharkan Kultaeva, a deputy, asked about the number of species of wild medicinal herbs that are banned from collection in Kyrgyzstan.
Almaz Musaev, a representative of the Ministry of Natural Resources, responded that there is currently a moratorium on the collection of 12 species of plants.
Kultaeva emphasized that in addition to imposing a ban on collection, it is also necessary to focus on the restoration and increase of these plants' populations. As an example, she mentioned the Aksy district, where the Aflatun onion—a wild medicinal plant—grows.
She noted that despite the ban, scientific institutions do not pay enough attention to the propagation and restoration of these plants. The deputy also inquired whether there is monitoring of the plants' condition after the moratorium was introduced.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Mirbek Duyshiev stated that he does not have precise data on the condition of the Aflatun onion. He reminded that the collection of plants that are endangered or listed in the Red Book is prohibited in accordance with the recommendations of the scientific community.
According to him, the draft law being discussed aims to protect wild medicinal plants. It offers the possibility of cultivating them on agricultural lands, which should reduce the pressure on natural populations.
"The essence of the law is that farmers can grow medicinal plants on their fields and harvest them without affecting wild specimens," Duyshiev explained.
Kultaeva noted that comprehensive work is necessary for the conservation of wild plants, involving forestry, agricultural structures, and scientific organizations. She emphasized the importance of not only imposing restrictions on collection but also actively restoring populations, as many of these plants possess valuable medicinal properties.
The law "On the Development of Agriculture" proposes to add provisions on selective-genetic methods for breeding agricultural crops, including the cultivation of medicinal plants such as valerian, calendula, sage, saffron, ferula, aconite, arnebia, rhodiola rosea, licorice, sea buckthorn, rosehip, barberry, thyme, and chamomile.
