Essential Medicines Likely to Suffer From Plant Extinctions Due To Habitat Loss, Report Warns

The latest report warned of the effects of plant extinctions on medicines. Plants suffer from habitat loss, drought and wildfires.

It is significant in communities and ecosystems. Plants helps to improve air quality and reduce the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition, plants are essential for forests and wildlife. In the new report, experts warned of the potential impacts of plant extinctions on medicines future.

Plant extinctions impact on medicines

(Photo : by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The recent report warned of the potential impacts of plant extinctions on essential medicines. Habitat loss can make it challenging for many plants to survive amidst the threats of climate change and extreme weather events.

Plants provide treatment and medicines to humans. The medicinal properties of plants help in treating illnesses and injuries. As a result, protecting plants from extinction is vital to human and wildlife welfare.

Recently, the report showed that 3 in 4 undescribed vascular plants could face threats of extinction due to habitat loss. The other threats are prolonged drought, wildfires, climate change, invasive species and hurricanes.

Researchers from the Kew Royal Botanical Garden developed a recent report about the state of the world's plants and fungi. It provides new insights into plant risks and conservation efforts.

In addition, they also came up with the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) and State of Fungi. The data was based on the 35-year collaboration from experts globally.

The growing concerns of habitat loss can make it challenging for plants to thrive. The findings added that 77% of the reported undescribed species could be at risk.

Matilda Brown, a conservation analyst and researcher from the Royal Botanic Gardens explained the 100 threatened species. It could make a significant impact on future medicines.

Understanding the gaps in the conservation efforts can also help researchers better protect plants. The report highlighted that some of the newly described species could suffer from extinction threats.

Fungi benefits and conservation efforts

Furthermore, there are an estimated 2.5 million species of fungi. It may take about 750 years to catalog all the said species finally.

According to Professor Alexandre Antonelli, the report could help policymakers consider the fungi species also to be protected because of their significant role in the ecosystem.

Antonelli is Kew's director of science.

Also Read: Asteroid That Killed Dinosaurs Also Caused Extinction of Ancient Plant Species 66 Million Years Ago

There are still species of fungi unknown to science. Fungi are also beneficial to humans and ecosystems. It helps plant nutrient cycling and is vital for soil health.

With the increasing problems of plastic pollution, fungi can help and degrade plastic. It also assists in degrading potential pollutants.

As a result, monitoring plants and other species is crucial to the global population. Preventing a decline in numbers and collapse will be important for humans due to their benefits in medicines.

The increasing concerns of climate change can affect many plants. As a result, conservation and restoration efforts are needed.

Related Article: 3 in 4 Undescribed Vascular Plants At Risk of Extinction Amidst Threats of Climate Change, Habitat Loss

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