Senior lecturer at the Department of Plant and Environmental Biology at the University of Ghana, Dr. Gladys Odey Schwinger, has called on the youth and communities to be “botanically aware” in order to actively participate in plant conservation.
This follows the celebration of the 2026 World Wildlife Day, which was observed on Tuesday, March 3.
Dr. Odey Schwinger made the call in an interview with Univers News on how the youth can benefit economically from wildlife while also contributing to its conservation.
“The youth and communities must be botanically aware. What I mean is that we should recognise the importance of plants in our lives. A lot of us pass by plants without acknowledging whether there is anything there.
“Ask questions. Ask the elders. In this way, the knowledge is passed on to the next generation over time. Otherwise, there will come a time when nobody will know what plants are used for,” she said.
Emphasising the biggest threats facing medicinal plant species in Ghana, Dr. Odey Schwinger stated that illegal mining, deforestation, and the lack of proper planning in urban areas continue to endanger these plant species.
“Because of illegal mining, the topsoil is often removed and the land becomes degraded. Seeds that naturally exist in the soil and would germinate later are lost, preventing regeneration.
“Our lack of planning for green spaces in our communities is one of the biggest threats, especially in urban areas. Deforestation is also a major threat to the survival of these plants,” she emphasised.
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Story by Esther Afia Ntewusu | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Oliver Arthur Acorlor and Gabriel Tecco Mensah
