Medicine from trees, extracted from the wood, bark, roots, leaves, flowers, fruits or seeds is fundamental to the well-being of millions of people. Where access to modern pharmaceuticals is limited, trees offer living pharmacies open to anyone with traditional knowledge on their medicinal properties. Medicine from trees is also traded internationally, with many prescription drugs based on molecules taken from trees.
Sustainable extraction of medicine from wild trees can provide an economic value to conserve forests and the medicinal trees within them. However, without careful management, over-exploitation, driven by strong market demand, poses a significant threat to many trees.