Promoting the use of medicinal plants in community health care, particularly in areas where people have limited access to conventional medicine.

Jardins du Monde is a French humanitarian organization recognized as being of public interest. Its primary goal is to promote the use of medicinal plants in community health care in areas where people have limited access to conventional medicine.

In many countries where health conditions are poor, there exists a rich plant-based pharmacopoeia and local knowledge regarding their use.

Jardins du Monde’s activities, based on the active participation of rural communities, contribute to improving living conditions in terms of hygiene and health. They enhance access to healthcare for the most disadvantaged populations by developing the use of locally available natural resources, through a health education program and with a focus on preserving these resources and traditional knowledge.

Unfortunately, we are witnessing the disappearance of knowledge regarding the use of medicinal plants. Furthermore, the threat to plant biodiversity in general also affects medicinal plants, which are becoming less available to the populations that need them most.

Jardins du Monde studies knowledge about locally used medicinal plants and shares its data and educational tools with its partners, health institutions, NGOs, and local farmers’ organizations.

Jardins du Monde’s activities, based on the active participation of rural communities (Madagascar, Burkina Faso), contribute to improving living conditions in terms of hygiene and health. They enhance access to healthcare for the most disadvantaged populations by promoting the use of locally available natural resources, through a health education program and with a focus on preserving these resources and traditional knowledge.

Since 1992, at the request of local populations and in collaboration with farming communities, village and urban organizations, and using a methodology that we adapt to the specific conditions on the ground, Jardins du Monde:

• studied the local traditional pharmacopoeia and pathologies through ethnobotanical surveys
• seeks therapeutic solutions and adapts them for public use
• writes and publishes educational materials for use by local communities
• raises awareness among local communities about hygiene, health, nutrition, and the environment
• trains communities, local health workers, and traditional healers in the use of medicinal plants according to an adapted protocol
• establishes educational and community gardens to make medicinal plants available and promote their knowledge 
• adapts to local health and biodiversity conditions by facilitating access to drinking water and electricity and through environmental protection initiatives (agroecology, reforestation, protected areas)