Retired forester keen on conserving medicinal plants

A neat plantation of indigenous and exotic trees welcomes you to retired forester John Obango’s home. The sound of birds perched on trees calms a visitor as the cool lake breeze sweeps over the home, rattling the leaves. The throb of Obango’s heartbeat is palpable in the tranquility that prevails across the three-acre parcel of land along the Bondo-Usenge road in lower Goma village, Siaya County. The 63-year-old invites us for a walk in his compound, home to variety of plant species.

He may be aging, but the urge to plant more trees continues. He proudly takes us on a tour, carefully identifying and plucking leaves of plants ranging from herbs and vegetables to fruit bushes and trees. Some have shed their leaves in defence against the dry weather while others are lush green.

Obango cuts the image of a successful professional in academia. But when he speaks, he sounds more like a man who has lived in the forest all his life. “I have worked as a forester and researcher and that is where my love for trees grew,” he says, explaining every detail he can muster about plants, nutrition and diseases.

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“The high cost of conventional medicine, coupled with inadequate public health service delivery, has driven people towards herbal medicine,” he says, adding that conservation of medicinal plants is his key concern.

Obango was employed as a technician at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) in 1978 and later pursued a diploma course in Environmental Science. He retired in 2015 and now says his aim is to help preserve these plants, not only to fight diseases but also for purpose of research, while producing income for his family.

Among the plants in his garden are Neem trees, Eucalyptus, Mexixcan Cypress, Moringa Oleifera and Acacia.

“Other than being planted for timber, eucalyptus is used in treatment of respiratory illnesses – coughs, colds, sore throats, asthma, and congestion appear to respond to medicinescontaining eucalyptus,” he explains.

Inadequate cultivation is causing over-harvesting of wild plants, leading to depletion of some species such as the African cherry and sandalwood. “Medicinal plants are collected and used without any regulation, opening them to indiscriminate exploitation and bio-piracy,” he says.

The forester also supports conservation of medicinal plants by providing technical help to propagate plants and establish herb gardens to individuals and community groups.

“To take advantage of growing need for the traditional medicine, more medicinal plant nurseries and gardens could be established, including contracting farmers to supply herbs,” he says.

Obango says there are some challenges. “Some medicinal plants are not locally available and it therefore involves traveling to search for them which is costly,” he says.

He is also using traditional methods of processing the medicine due to lack of improved facilities.

Obango, who is perfecting his skills in research, says he aims at passing the skills to younger generations. But before that, he is happy to sensitise and help local communities treat various diseases.

“Our people should have at least five medicinal plants in their homes to provide remedy during an emergency,” he advises.

Prof Regina Nyunja, Dean in the School of Biological and Physical Sciences at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, said growing use of herbal treatments is an opportunity for the traditional medicine industry to expand.

The development of urban markets for herbal medicines has increased the number of dealers selling both raw and semi-processed preparations.

But Prof Nyunja highlights potential challenges to safety and quality due to weak guidelines, regulations and standards for the products, practitioners and retailers.