Cultivating “fertile fields and rich soil” for the sustainable development of Tibetan medicinal herbs.

　　The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is one of China’s regions with the richest biodiversity. The unique climatic conditions created by its high altitude have endowed Tibetan medicinal herbs with remarkable therapeutic effects, and for thousands of years, these herbs have played a vital role in safeguarding public health. However, the plateau’s harsh, cold, and oxygen-deficient environment results in longer production cycles and lower yields for some medicinal herbs. Moreover, certain herbs have extremely stringent requirements for their growing environments, making it impossible to cultivate them artificially even today. As the Tibetan medicine industry rapidly develops, the issue of insufficient supply of Tibetan medicinal resources has become increasingly apparent. This has led to instances of exploitative harvesting of Tibetan medicinal resources, putting some medicinal species at risk of extinction and posing serious challenges to the sustainable development of the Tibetan medicine industry.

　　The photo shows a highland plant growing at an altitude of over 4,000 meters. Photography: Zhao Yao.

　　To focus on the development of Tibetan medicine and the conservation of biodiversity on the plateau, and to promote sustainable development in the fields of medicine, culture, economy, species, and the environment, the 13th International Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility of Chinese Enterprises was held in Beijing on June 6. At the forum, Tibet Qizheng Tibetan Medicine, in collaboration with WTO Economic Digest, launched a new initiative called the “Golden Bee Global CSR2030 Initiative.”

　　The photo shows the conference venue. Photo provided by Qizheng Tibetan Medicine.

　　Relevant officials from Qizheng Tibetan Medicine stated that, as modern inheritors of the millennia-old Tibetan medicinal tradition, Qizheng Tibetan Medicine has launched an initiative to focus on the biodiversity of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and build a business ecosystem that prioritizes long-term interests. From procurement and R&D to production, we strive to utilize Tibetan medicinal resources in an effective, rational, and sustainable manner. We recognize the rights of indigenous communities to harness local ecological resources for their survival and development, actively engaging enterprises in the eco-trade sector and local residents in the production areas. By ensuring sustainable procurement at the place of origin, we aim to reduce the overexploitation of wild medicinal resources, minimize human-induced environmental damage, and create conditions for both natural self-recovery and human-assisted ecological restoration. In this way, we can protect and pass on Tibetan medical culture, while simultaneously promoting the development of the Tibetan medicine industry and safeguarding the biodiversity of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau—and ensuring the flourishing of cultural diversity rooted in this biodiversity.

　　The photo shows staff members sorting medicinal herbs. Photo by Zhao Yao.

　　Focusing on the initiative’s goals, Qizheng Tibetan Medicine has outlined a clear action plan that includes conducting a comprehensive survey of Tibetan medicinal plant resources, promoting the establishment of a Tibetan medicinal plant germplasm resource bank, carrying out research into alternative sources for Tibetan medicinal materials, conducting studies on Tibetan medicinal plant cultivation techniques in their native habitats, implementing sustainable harvesting practices in the places of origin of Tibetan medicinal materials, establishing wild-cultivation bases in high-altitude and cold regions where these plants naturally grow, facilitating the transition from wild to cultivated Tibetan medicinal plants in their original habitats, and actively engaging in the inheritance and protection of Tibetan medical culture—these constitute eight key initiatives.

　　The photo shows various raw materials of Tibetan medicinal herbs mixed and stirred together. Photography: Zhao Yao.

　　It is understood that the “Golden Bee Global CSR 2030 Initiative” was officially launched in 2017, and has already attracted the participation of 25 renowned enterprises and 2 institutions. The initiative aims to build corporate competitiveness in responsibility through a shared philosophy of responsibility and innovative actions, foster positive relationships between businesses and society, and achieve sustainable development for both enterprises and society. At the same time, it seeks to contribute to China’s implementation of its national plan for the Sustainable Development Agenda and help advance the ultimate realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

　　Reporting media: China Tibet Online