In the future, humanity may lose up to half of its medicines due to the extinction of medicinal plants. This is stated in the State of the World report by an international scientific group led by scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (RBG Kew) in the UK. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Annual Environmental and Resource Review (ARER).
According to the report, nearly half of the world’s flowering plants are in danger of extinction. We are talking about approximately 100 thousand species.
“We are examining more than 100 thousand plant species that are in danger of extinction. “Given that nine out of 10 of our medicines are made from plants, we could be at risk of losing half of our medicines,” said environmental expert Matilda Brown.
According to Alexander Antonelli, scientific director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the study shows once again how little people know about plants and fungi on Earth.
“We know more about the surface of Mars than about the fungi on this planet,” the scientist emphasized.
Antonelli said he hoped the scientific study would encourage policymakers to consider plants and fungi when choosing areas to protect as part of an international goal to protect 30% of Earth’s nature, rather than focusing solely on animals.
Previous scientists I learnedIt is stated that 77 percent of yet undiscovered plant species are in danger of extinction.