The literature defines livelihoods as 'the processes comprising the capabilities, assets and activities that provide a means for living' to the human beings. Livelihoods are best examined through Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF), which is based on the premise that livelihood is not about resource productivity but it is about people and their lives. Livelihoods are sustainable when they are: a) resilient to shocks and stresses, b) independent of external support, c) maintain the productivity (and diversity) of natural stocks; and d) do not adversely affect the livelihoods of others. In other words, SLF: a) builds on the strengths of people, their resources and knowledge systems, b) strengthens local institutional capacity, c) attempts to remove conditions causing poverty rather than poverty itself, and d) gives priority to improving policies, processes and institutions in developing and implementing programs. Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP)-based livelihood systems are often mediated by the market forces and/or related directly to employment and income of the poor people. Based on the research work carried out by IDRC supported research in South Asia, we find that MAP and other biodiversity-based livelihoods can not only become poverty reducing they can also be made socially equitable and gender balanced. However, the interventions have to be carefully designed to enhance and diversified livelihood strategies with a focus on strengthening existing biodiversity-based livelihoods by considering the following points: a) both non-monetary and monetary benefits from biodiversity-based livelihoods; b) improving linkages and synergies with and amongst other components of biodiversity; c) landscape-scale management practices that protect or enhance biodiversity (organic farming, mixed farming, community forest management, water management to enhance aquatic resources, opposition to enclosure of the commons, etc.). MAP-based livelihoods can be easily mainstreamed with other components to enhance human welfare, especially among the poor and marginalized communities. Oral Paper Presented at The 3rd World Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants for Human Welfare (WOCMAP III) 3-7 February 2003, Chiang Mai, Thailand
