Kalpavriksha-Legacy of Forests

English/26mins 55secs/2000
Producer: Mike H. Pandey, Riverbank Studios
Supported by: UNESCO

Subject Focus: Medicinal Plants: The need for integration of tribal wisdom with modern science.

Summary: This film traces the evolution and discovery of medicinal plants and tribal wisdom in India to show how historically and culturally they have been an integral part of India. About 80% of the developing world still relies on age-old medicinal practices based on the curative properties of plants found in the area. Today, the modern world is moving towards these traditional practices creating a phenomenal demand for medicinal plants. Strangely, the bulk of the plants traded are gathered from ‘wild’ forest sources - very few species are cultivated.

Producer’s/Director’s Profile: Mike Pandey is an internationally renowned wildlife filmmaker and conservationist. Born in Kenya, Mike trained in UK and USA before returning to India to work in the country of his origin. Committed and dedicated to the protection of Indian wildlife and environment, Mike’s films have always reflected his passion. In 1994 became the first Asian ever to win the Wild Screen Panda Award also known as the ‘Green Oscar’ for his film The Last Migration – Wild elephant Caputre in Sarguja. Six years later his film Shores of Silence – Whale Sharks in India won him the Green Oscar for a second time. The film was also instrumental in giving the Whale Shark International protection. In November 2002, a resolution was passed at the CITES convention in Santiago, Chile giving the Whale Shark global protection.