Executive Statement  

The conservation of botanical diversity is just one aspect of the vast landscape of conservation issues which warrant attention. The importance of preserving botanical diversity becomes clear when one understands that humans have relied on the plant kingdom for survival since the early dawn of humanity (Schmidt & Cheng, 2017). Thus, humans of the past and present have developed a plethora of botanical applications, such as food, medicaments, and religious sacraments (Schmidt & Cheng, 2017; Ott, 1995; Schultes, 1972).

In many cases, plant knowledge is passed down from generation to generation through oral traditions, creating culturally specific perspectives on the use of plants (Schmidt & Cheng, 2017). Today, many such systems of knowledge are at risk of extinction due to environmental disequilibrium and cultural fragmentation (Plotkin, 2020; Schmidt & Cheng, 2017). In many locations, botanical habitats are threatened by agricultural development and natural disasters related to climate change, such as drought, fires, desertification, and floods (Schmidt & Cheng, 2017).

Though folk medicine may seem primitive and superstitious to those of the developed world, the study of plants employed by indigenous folk healers has aided modern scientific advances in pharmacology (Hofmann, 1995). As a result, over a quarter of the pharmaceuticals on the market today owe their existence to phytochemistry and the investigation of botanical folk remedies (Cox, 1994). According to the World Health Organization (1993), over 80% of the world’s population relies on botanical knowledge for their medical needs. Additionally, it has been reported that approximately 70% of novel pharmaceuticals developed in recent decades have emerged from phytochemistry (Steenhuysen, 2007). Thus, botanical diversity is attached to a rich history and holds one of the many keys to unlocking the gate of future medical advances.

From providing nutrition and supporting allied pollinators, to providing medical resources; botanical diversity plays an essential role in supporting human existence. Unfortunately, the conservation of botanical diversity has received less attention than conservation efforts aimed at the animal kingdom (Corlett, 2016). As a result, plant conservation is greatly under-resourced by comparison (Goettsch et al., 2015). Thus, less than 20,000 plant species globally have been formally assessed for their conservation status (Goettsch et al., 2015). However, habitat destruction does play a role in the extinction of plant species (Schmidt & Cheng, 2017) and sizeable protected areas have historically played a significant role in ameliorating survival barriers (Plotkin, 2020).

Additionally, initiatives such as the Conservation of Biological Diversity (CBD) deserve both support and funding, as such treaties aim to develop strategies for the sustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable benefit of sharing of biological resources (Schmidt & Cheng, 2017). However, the development of novel agricultural systems must aim to deliver more to those who need it most, with as little environmental disturbance as possible (Foley et al., 2011). Thus, working to increase the efficiency of sites dedicated to crop production may play a role in increasing output without an excessive need to expand geographically.

In response to a need to preserve ethnobotanical knowledge and a need for the conservation of botanical resources, the Phytonaut Ethnobotanical InfoSphere (PEI) aims to provide resources to researchers and students concerned with botany, as it relates to human affairs. Thus, the PEI has embarked upon an endeavor to preserve botanical knowledge in a digital format, providing an encyclopedia of plants and their applications to the general public. Additionally, the PEI works to keep a growing list of references to aid in providing reputable information and resources for further inquiry.

Ryan M. Teets (2021)

Chief  Editor