How extensive is the global trade in medicinal plants?
Plants were the first medicines, and even as modern humans have developed sophisticated pharmaceutical chemicals to treat illnesses, medicinal plants remain an important tool for treating illness in most cultures. Hundreds, if not thousands, of plant species are harvested for their medicinal properties all over the world. In some regions, traditional medicines made from local plants and animals are the only available and affordable treatment. The World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of the world’s population depends on traditional medicine for their health needs. In many developed countries, traditional herbal remedies are making a comeback as alternatives to conventional medicine. In the United States, the number of people using herbal medicines has increased from 2.5 percent in 1990 to 37 percent in 2000. Collecting medicinal plants for sale is an important income source for poor rural communities around the world. Unfortunately, today the commercial demand for these m
