- "With demand and commercialisation growing fast,
the future of the wild plants that have helped most of humanity for centuries
is now more uncertain than it has ever been."
-
- The growing demand for herbal remedies is threatening
to wipe out 10,000 of the world's 50,000 medicinal plant species, conservation
group WWF says.
-
- In Europe alone, more than 1,300 medicinal plants are
used commercially, and about 90% are taken from the wild.
-
- A report released on Thursday by the Plantlife International
group urges suppliers to ensure ingredients are cultivated or harvested
responsibly.
-
- The British Herbal Medicine Association says the problem
has been exaggerated.
-
- But Plantlife International says the plants are harvested
wastefully far too often.
-
- They say the bearberry - used to treat kidney and digestive
problems - has become rare in much of Eastern Europe because whole plants
are uprooted even though only the leaves are used.
-
- Other threatened plants include tetu lakha - a tree found
in south India and Sri Lanka and used for anti-cancer drugs in Europe,
saw-wort - an Indian root used for skin disorders, and tendrilled fritillary
- a Chinese plant used to treat respiratory infections.
-
- Study author and World Conservation Union Medicinal Plant
Specialist Group member Alan Hamilton told New Scientist magazine: "It
is an extremely serious problem."
-
- The market for herbal remedies in North America and Europe
has risen by 10% every year for the past decade, research indicates.
-
- It is now thought to be worth at least £11bn.
-
- Plantlife's Martin Harper told New Scientist: "With
demand and commercialisation growing fast, the future of the wild plants
that have helped most of humanity for centuries is now more uncertain than
it has ever been."
-
- "It is time for the industry to join forces with
environmental organisations to ensure herbal harvests have a sustainable
future."
-
- © BBC MMIV
-
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3377985.stm
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