Traditional Medicine in Nigeria: The Fight to Save Healing Plants

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In Nigeria, plants have always done more than just feed us. They have healed us. For centuries, families turned to herbs like neem leaves for malaria, bitter leaf for fever, and pawpaw roots for infections. These remedies were trusted long before hospitals became widespread.

Today, however, many of these healing plants are becoming harder to find. That is because Nigeria’s rich biodiversity is disappearing, and with it, the traditional medicine that millions still rely on. According to the World Health Organization, over 70% of Africans depend on traditional medicine for primary healthcare. For many rural Nigerians, it is not a cultural preference, it is their only option.

This article explores the deep link between biodiversity and traditional medicine in Nigeria, the threats putting them at risk, and what the country stands to lose if urgent action is not taken.

Why Biodiversity and Traditional Medicine Matter in Nigeria

In many Nigerian communities, plants are not just cultural symbols. They are healthcare itself. Biodiversity supplies the herbs healers need to treat illnesses, from malaria and high blood pressure to wounds and infections.

Without biodiversity, there is no traditional medicine. And without traditional medicine, millions of Nigerians, especially in rural areas, lose their primary form of treatment.

As farmland expands and forests vanish, the plants that sustain these practices are disappearing. Fewer plants mean fewer remedies, weaker treatments, and ultimately, less access to healthcare for those who need it most.

Threats Facing Biodiversity and Traditional Medicine in Nigeria

The decline of biodiversity in Nigeria is not accidental. It is driven by a series of human and environmental pressures. Each of these threats makes it harder for healers to find and use medicinal plants, weakening both cultural heritage and healthcare systems.

1. Deforestation and Habitat Loss

Forests, wetlands, and grasslands where medicinal plants grow are being cleared for farming, logging, and urban expansion. As habitats vanish, so do the species healers depend on. According to UNESCO, habitat destruction is one of the leading causes of biodiversity loss globally.

2. Overharvesting of Medicinal Plants

Traditional medicine often relies on plants harvested from the wild. With demand rising and little replanting, species like neem, bitter leaf, and pawpaw are becoming scarce. Overharvesting forces healers to travel farther for weaker alternatives, directly reducing treatment options.

3. Climate Change Impacts

Shifting rainfall patterns, higher temperatures, and extreme weather are making it harder for some plants to survive where they once thrived. Species are disappearing from familiar landscapes, disrupting age-old healing practices.

4. Weak Enforcement of Conservation Laws

Nigeria has environmental protection policies, but poor enforcement allows illegal harvesting and logging to continue. Without stricter protection, biodiversity loss accelerates, taking traditional medicine with it.

5. Loss of Indigenous Knowledge

As younger generations move to cities, fewer people learn plant identification, sustainable harvesting, and preparation methods. This knowledge gap threatens the survival of traditional medicine, even if some plant species endure.

What Nigeria Stands to Lose Without Biodiversity and Traditional Medicine

The consequences of biodiversity loss go beyond plants. It directly impacts people’s lives, health, and culture.

• Healthcare Access for Rural Communities: In many villages, herbal medicine is the only healthcare available. Without medicinal plants, common illnesses like malaria or infections could go untreated.

• Cultural Knowledge and Practices: Generations of indigenous knowledge are tied to herbal remedies. If plants vanish, centuries of healing wisdom vanish with them.

• Livelihoods of Herbal Vendors and Healers: Thousands of Nigerians earn a living through traditional medicine. Shrinking plant supplies cut off vital income streams.

• Economic Opportunities: The global herbal medicine market is booming, but Nigeria risks missing out if biodiversity is not managed sustainably.

• Resilience Against Health Crises: Traditional remedies often serve as the first response when modern drugs are unavailable or unaffordable. Losing them weakens Nigeria’s healthcare resilience.

What Must Change to Save Biodiversity and Traditional Medicine

Protecting biodiversity and sustaining traditional medicine in Nigeria will require urgent, coordinated action.

• Protect Forests and Habitats: Enforce stronger conservation laws to prevent deforestation.

• Encourage Cultivation: Support rural communities and healers in growing medicinal plants instead of relying only on the wild.

• Preserve Indigenous Knowledge: Document and pass on herbal practices to future generations before they disappear.

• Address Climate Change: Incorporate climate adaptation strategies into conservation plans.

• Integrate Traditional Medicine into Policy: Recognize healers in national healthcare strategies, as WHO recommends.

• Promote Sustainable Harvesting: Train communities in eco-friendly harvesting to protect wild populations.

Explore more on Nigeria’s biodiversity and conservation:

• 6 Must-Know Medicinal Plants in Nigeria (Uses & Growing Tips)
• Nigeria Endangered Species: Causes, & Conservation Efforts [2025]
• Iroro Tanshi: The Woman Saving Nigeria’s Lost Bat Species

Conclusion: What Nigeria Stands to Lose

Without its plants, Nigeria’s healthcare system, especially in rural areas, will become even weaker. Families who depend on herbal remedies will be left with few alternatives, and once the knowledge of these plants fades, it cannot easily return.

Biodiversity and traditional medicine in Nigeria are inseparable. They sustain health, livelihoods, and culture. If biodiversity continues to collapse, Nigeria will not just lose plants. It will lose a critical part of its survival system.

The choice is clear: protect biodiversity now, or risk losing both nature and medicine for future generations.

FAQs on Nigeria’s Biodiversity and Ecotourism

What is biodiversity and why is it important in Nigeria?

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms. In Nigeria, biodiversity is critical for ecological balance, cultural identity, and economic opportunities such as ecotourism.

How does ecotourism benefit Nigeria’s biodiversity?

Ecotourism creates incentives to conserve wildlife by turning biodiversity into a source of income for local communities and the nation. This reduces reliance on unsustainable practices like logging and poaching.

Who is Iroro Tanshi and what role does she play in conservation?

Iroro Tanshi is a Nigerian conservation biologist known for rediscovering the short-tailed roundleaf bat in Nigeria and championing biodiversity protection. Her work has brought global attention to Nigeria’s ecological treasures.

What are the main threats to biodiversity in Nigeria?

The leading threats include deforestation, habitat loss, climate change, poaching, and unsustainable land use. These pressures continue to endanger both wildlife and ecosystems.

How can travelers support biodiversity conservation in Nigeria?

Travelers can support by choosing eco-friendly tours, visiting certified community-based ecotourism projects, and promoting responsible travel practices that protect wildlife habitats.