Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
issue of Herbal Gram (Vol. 81), the quarterly journal of the
American Botanical Council (ABC).
endan gering
medicinal plants
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A 14-page article, based on recent climate change research and
the perspectives of 15 scientific researchers, medicinal plant
conservation experts and others, explores the current and poten-
tial effects of climate change on medicinal and aromatic plants.
The article notes that species endemic to regions or ecosystems
that are especially vulnerable to climate change, such as Arctic
and alpine regions, could be most at risk. 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.
Researchers who have studied medicinal plants of Arctic and
alpine areas and discovered potential threats posed by climate
change provide information on their findings.
The article further explores effects of climate change that
appear to be impacting plants including medicinal through-
out the world. For example, climate change has led to shifts
in seasonal timing and/or ranges for many plants, which
could ultimately endanger some wild medicinal populations.
Extreme weather events, meanwhile, have begun to impact the
production and harvesting of various medicinal plants around
the world. For instance, recent abnormally hot summers have
prevented reseeding of medicinal plants such as chamomile
( Matricaria recutita ) in Germany and Poland, and increas-
ingly severe flooding in Hungary has reduced harvests of fen-
nel ( Foeniculum vulgare ) and anise ( Pimpinella anisum ) in that
cou nt r y.
Climate change
recognised as
one of the
greatest
challenges
Climate change has become increasingly recognised as one
of the greatest challenges to humankind and all other life on
Earth. Worldwide changes in seasonal patterns, weather events,
temperature ranges and other related phenomena have all been
reported and attributed to global climate change. Numerous
experts in a wide range of scientific disciplines have warned
that the negative impacts of climate change will become much
more intense and frequent in the future—particularly if envi-
ronmentally destructive human activities continue unabated.
Medicinal and
aromatic plants
and climate
change
Like all living members of the biosphere, medicinal and aro-
matic plants (MAPs) are not immune to the effects of climate
change. Climate change is causing noticeable effects on the life
cycles and distributions of the world's vegetation, including
wild MAPs. Some MAPs are endemic to geographic regions
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