The relevance of knowledge and use of medicinal plants for health and biodiversity: a perspective from Social Ecology

Abstract Human health is fundamental to the lives of individuals and societies. The dramatic decline in biodiversity is one of the most fundamental threats to the foundations of human life. Collected, cultivated and purchased plants have traditionally been used for their therapeutic, preventive or palliative effects on human health and well-being, and are deeply intertwined with culture and history. The IPBES report on the sustainable use of wild species in 2022 highlights the importance and contribution of the use of wild plants to global biodiversity conservation. However, there is still little reliable knowledge about the exact relationship between biodiversity and human health. In this paper, we argue that the example of knowledge and use of medicinal plants could be very well suited for a better understanding of the relations and interactions between biodiversity and health. From the perspective of Social Ecology, we advocate an inter- and transdisciplinary research approach that can provide both: system knowledge and transformation knowledge. We present the results of a conceptual study on knowledge and practices of medicinal plants in relation to their impact on human health and biodiversity in Germany. Community gardening, sustainable wild collection practices, and sharing of valuable local traditional knowledge can be possible pathways to conserve plant populations and knowledge. We argue that the practices around medicinal plants can create a reciprocal relationship between humans and these plants, leading to increased well-being and appreciation for them. To fully understand the impact of medicinal plants on health and biodiversity, it is necessary to move beyond a knowledge-focused analysis that has dominated literature to date and analyse the practices, benefits, and relationships between people, medicinal plants, and their ecosystems.