Gathered in woodlands and meadows, dried in the sun, transformed. Plants, roots, bark, resins and flowers that are part of ancestral cultures and traditions and have crossed continents. Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) have accompanied the history of humanity: they have healed, nourished, protected. And today they continue to do so.

We depend on wild plants

At the foundation of our cultural, food and therapeutic systems lie plants. It is estimated that between 50,000 and 70,000 plant species are used for medicinal or aromatic purposes worldwide. And only a small proportion of these are cultivated — the majority still come from wild harvesting.

Globally, one in five people depends on wild plants, algae and fungi for their food and economic sustenance, and between 70 and 95 per cent of the population in countries of the Global South relies on traditional medicine for primary healthcare, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). These plants form the foundation of many healthcare systems and remain vital to modern pharmaceuticals, as numerous active compounds derive directly or indirectly from natural sources, despite advances in synthetic chemistry.

Wild plants under threat

But this wealth is fragile. More than 20 per cent of plant species used for medicinal or aromatic purposes are at risk of extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The main causes are over-harvesting, habitat loss and fragmentation, agricultural expansion, climate change and illegal trade.

On this last point, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) comes into play — the international agreement signed in 1973 to ensure that trade in animal and plant species does not threaten their survival. Often associated solely with the protection of iconic animals such as elephants, rhinoceroses or big cats, CITES actually also covers thousands of plant species: more than 1,500 medicinal and aromatic plants are listed in its Appendices, of which over 800 appear in Appendix II, which regulates their trade.

It is no coincidence that 3 March — the date on which CITES was signed — was proclaimed World Wildlife Day by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013. Since then, the occasion has become an annual event for keeping attention on threatened species and the conservation efforts required. This year the day aims to remind us that "wildlife" also includes less visible plant species that are nonetheless fundamental to human health and ecosystem balance. Medicinal and aromatic plants play an ecological role that goes far beyond their therapeutic properties: they are pillars of biodiversity and soil stability. As well as representing a unique cultural heritage.

The state of medicinal and aromatic plants in Italy

To mark the occasion, Legambiente has published the report "Natura selvatica a rischio in Italia" (Wild Nature at Risk in Italy), which shows how certain species of medicinal and aromatic plants in our country are threatened by intensive harvesting, the climate crisis and habitat loss. Among these are Gentian (Gentiana lutea), Arnica (Arnica montana L.) and dwarf mugwort, which are classified as vulnerable or near-threatened, as well as juniper (Juniperus communis), over-exploited for its aromatic berries, liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) for its roots, valerian and St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.).

"Italy's officinal flora represents a strategic biological and economic resource, but not an unlimited one. Its conservation requires planning, technical and scientific expertise, and management policies grounded in ecological and agronomic evidence," said Stefano Raimondi, Legambiente's national biodiversity officer. The association also highlights how the officinal herb sector in Italy generates one billion euros a year, further underlining the need for precise regulations and the implementation of those already transposed at European level for the protection of biodiversity.