Climate Change and Medicinal Plant Conservation: Challenges and Strategies

Abstract

Climate change, driven by rising temperatures, unpredictable precipitation patterns, and habitat degradation, presents a critical challenge to the conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). These plants are indispensable to traditional medicine, pharmaceutical industries, and global healthcare systems, yet their survival is increasingly threatened by environmental shifts that disrupt their growth, distribution, and phytochemical composition. This review explores the intricate relationship between climate change and medicinal plant conservation, highlighting key threats such as biodiversity loss, altered secondary metabolite production, and habitat fragmentation. It further examines innovative conservation strategies, including ex situ and in situ approaches, climate-resilient cultivation techniques, and the role of indigenous knowledge in sustainable management. By fostering collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and local communities, a comprehensive framework can be established to safeguard medicinal plant diversity against climate-induced vulnerabilities. Ensuring the resilience of these invaluable botanical resources is imperative for both ecological balance and the future of global healthcare.