Climate change threatens medicinal plants, says ABC
According to an article published by the American Botanical Council (ABC) in its latest issue of HerbalGram, some key species could even be lost as a result of climate change.
Species lost?
The findings, from medicinal plant researchers and conservationists, reveal that species most at risk are those endemic to regions or ecosystems that are especially vulnerable to climate change, such as Arctic and alpine regions – including Rhodiola rosea and snow lotus.
“Rhodiola rosea of the Canadian Arctic and snow lotus (Saussurea laniceps) of the Tibetan mountains are specifically identified as medicinal species that could face significant threats from climate change,” said ABC.
"The Effects of Climate Change on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants", published this week, examines the current and potential impact of climate change on medicinal and aromatic plants around the world.
Indirect risks
Based on recent climate change research and the views of scientific researchers and medicinal plant conservation experts, the article also looks at the indirect impacts of changes in the environment on plants used for medicinal purposes.
These include shifts in seasonal timing or ranges for many plants, which could ultimately endanger some wild medicinal populations, said ABC.
The group also points out that extreme weather events are also having an effect on the production and harvesting of various medicinal plants around the world.
“Recent abnormally hot summers have prevented reseeding of medicinal plants such as chamomile (Matricaria recutita) in Germany and Poland, and increasingly severe flooding in Hungary has reduced harvests of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and anise (Pimpinella anisum) in that country,” it said.
