Burkina Faso launches National conference on medicinal plants

Bobo-Dioulasso Burkina Faso’s Minister of Environment, Roger Baro, inaugurated a public conference on medicinal plants at the Maison de la Culture on Friday, May 30, 2025. Held under the theme “Promoting Medicinal Plants in Burkina Faso: How Can Stakeholders Collaborate?”, the event aims to unify efforts among practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to strengthen the medicinal plant sector.

Organized as part of the 7th National Tree Day, the conference also marks the launch of Burkina Faso’s 2025 reforestation campaign.

Minister Baro highlighted President Ibrahim Traoré’s directive to establish 45 medicinal plant gardens one per province to enhance community health resilience.

Edith Marie Sylvie Daboué, Director-General of the National Forest Seed Center (CNSF), outlined plans for panel discussions to develop sustainable conservation strategies.

Meanwhile, ceremony patron El Hadj Boubacar Barro urged greater reforestation efforts, citing challenges traditional healers face in sourcing rare plants.

Mamadou Traoré, head of the National Union of Traditional Healers, called for expanded nurseries, botanical gardens, and formal recognition of traditional medicine’s role in healthcare.

The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and exhibition tour.

Cédric KABORE