Climate Change And Medicinal Plant Resources: Implications For Human Health And Ecosystem Services

Abstract

Climate change is becoming one of the biggest problems that threatens our planet, its living creatures and the well-being of humans involved. Medicinal plants are especially at risk because of higher temperatures, unusual rainfall, damage to habitat and the decline in pollinators. This review paper explores connections between climate change and the biodiversity of medicinal plants, especially in the Eastern Ghats of India. Many medicinal plants used by tribal communities are found in the region, but as the climate changes and plants are taken without care, some of these plants are about to become extinct. This paper highlights that ecological niche modeling studies, recent ethnobotanical surveys and gene analyses reveal the urgent need to use essential climate-related strategies in conserving our plants. This effort to protect these plants is both needed for the environment and for the health, traditions, careers and science of people.