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Medicinal Plants Face Extinction in South Africa
12 Oct
Summary
- 154 medicinal plant species are at risk of extinction.
- Unsustainable harvesting and climate change impact plant resources.
- Collaboration sought for cultivation and sustainable use.
South Africa's rich biodiversity is under severe threat as 154 commonly used medicinal plant species face potential extinction. This alarming situation was highlighted at a symposium in Durban, where South African deputy minister Narend Singh emphasized the urgent need for conservation efforts. Rising demand from urban areas, unsustainable harvesting practices, and the impacts of climate change are exacerbating the pressure on these plants.
Experts from India and South Africa convened to discuss enhanced collaboration in traditional and alternative medicine. The discussions focused on protecting medicinal plants, preserving biodiversity, and ensuring the equitable sharing of benefits derived from genetic resources and traditional knowledge. Both nations share a commitment to safeguarding these resources for future generations.
Efforts are being called for to boost the cultivation of medicinal species and replenish depleted resources. It was stressed that traditional knowledge cannot be genuinely protected while the natural resources supporting it continue to be depleted. India's Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa, Banu Prakash, noted the country's rich legacy of traditional knowledge and encouraged a greater focus on planting species associated with Ayurvedic medicine.
Shobhit Kumar, a research officer from India's NITI Aayog, highlighted that traditional and modern medicine are viewed as complementary, not competing. He suggested that traditional medicine can work alongside allopathic treatments to advance the goal of universal health coverage.
