On Tuesday, the world – or at least the part that may not have the immediate threat of war hanging over its head – observed UN World Wildlife Day. The 2026 theme ‘Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods’ aims at reflecting how people everywhere rely on wildlife and biodiversity-based resources – from food and fuel to medicines, housing and clothing. Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), the UN says, are central to this relationship. More than 50,000 MAP species are known globally – about 16 per cent of all known plant species – and their use dates back some 5,000 years. According to the WHO, over 80 per cent of the population in its 170 member states use traditional medicine, particularly for chronic diseases, and around 40 per cent of modern pharmaceuticals are derived from medicinal plants and traditional medical knowledge. In 2024, international trade in MAPs exceeded $200 billion. However, the economic pressures have threatened these vital resources. More than 20 per cent of plant species used for medicinal and aromatic purposes are considered threatened with extinction, and around 15,000 face extinction risks due to illegal trade, habitat loss and fragmentation, overharvesting and climate change.
Unchecked, rapid growth worldwide is depleting our natural resources. Governments are rapidly razing fertile land to construct concrete jungles and divert almost endless funds to real estate. Water required for plantation is being used to cool down power-hungry data centres. In our aspirations to build a world where robots have the same status as humans, we are deliberately killing the species vital for our ecosystem. Besides plants, animals are also not safe. According to reports, snow leopards in Pakistan are severely threatened by climate change, poaching, and habitat fragmentation. In a first-of-its-kind scientific survey, experts have revealed that only 167 of these rare animals remain in the country. Similarly, research conducted at the Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CUVAS), Bahawalpur, finds the presence of microplastics in two specimens of fish collected from Panjnad and Taunsa barrages and warned that, as the food cycle suggests, these hazardous particles are being consumed by those eating the river fish in southern Punjab.
The world must act collectively to save our environment. For humans and other species, the planet Earth is the only place they can call home. Protecting wildlife is our responsibility. What we have seen in recent years is that there is no mention of wildlife, marine animals, birds or plants when we talk about growth. We are wilfully turning our cities into dry jungles with no other species. What nature tells us is that humans have to coexist with other species. Our actions are unfortunately completely different. We need them to keep our ecosystem balanced and healthy. If these living organisms stop functioning, there will be little room left for human health. This day should be a wakeup call for leaders to stop taking wildlife for granted. All future growth should follow a blueprint that honours and respects the life beyond humans.
