Wild medicinal plants as drivers of biodiversity and sustainability in the Mediterranean region

Olha Mykhailenko a,b, Banaz Jalil a, Marce Takubessia, Michael Heinrich a,c

a Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy Group, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom; b National University of Pharmacy, Kharkiv, Ukraine; c Chinese Medicine Research Center, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

Keywords: climate change; sustainability; local flora; Greece.

Background. Nature is dynamic, and plant life is highly dependent on climatic conditions, which determine growth, reproduction, and survival. The rise in average temperatures and increasing climatic instability in the past decades pose a significant threat to plant diversity. Climate change is leading to land-use shifts and increasing pressure on natural ecosystems and biodiversity. In addition, the Mediterranean regions are particularly sensitive to climate change (Prada et al. 2024). However, the specific impacts of climate change on medicinal plant diversity in South-East Europe, ecosystem services and their long-term bioeconomic potential remain poorly understood.

Wild medicinal and aromatic plants, as valuable non-timber forest products (NTFPs), are especially vulnerable because their availability depends on intact habitats and stable ecological interactions. At the same time, they make important contributions to ecosystem services, including climate regulation, pollinator support, soil stabilisation, and cultural services linked to traditional knowledge and local culture. Ensuring their sustainable management is therefore not only a biodiversity priority but also a strategic component of regional bioeconomy and climate-resilient development planning. For example, Sideritis scardica and Asparagus aphyllus, both used in local traditions, show the climate sensitivity of dry Mediterranean habitats, while specialised taxa such as orchids (e.g., Ophrys sphegodes) depend on tightly coupled plant–pollinator and mycorrhizal interactions, making them particularly vulnerable to ecological disruption.

In Greece, the Erimitis region in northeastern Corfu represents one of the last relatively intact coastal ecosystems of the Ionian Islands, combining forests, wetlands, and Mediterranean scrubland (Alrhmoun et al. 2025). Under increasing tourism pressure and climate stress, sustainable regional development requires innovative strategies that integrate ecological resilience with socio-economic benefits.

Approach and methods. Our proposed framework (Mykhailenko et al. 2025), based on four determinants (habitat integrity, reproductive success, climate sensitivity, and the intensity of bioeconomic use), helps assess the vulnerability of medicinal plants with respect to their environmental sustainability and bioeconomic value.

Findings. This approach can also be applied to Corfu's flora. Key species include Sideritis scardica Griseb. or Greek mountain tea (Near Threatened), Pistacia lentiscus L. or mastic (Least Concern), Crithmum maritimum L. or sea fennel (Least Concern), and Laurus nobilis L. or bay laurel (Least Concern), which are recognised as vulnerable plants (IUCN 3.1). In addition, although Crocus sativus L. (saffron) is not currently listed as threatened, it represents a climate-sensitive species whose cultivation is highly dependent on specific temperature and precipitation patterns. Increasing drought frequency and seasonal temperature shifts in Mediterranean regions have already led to significant declines in yield and quality, indicating potential long-term vulnerability. These plants represent pharmacologically active and economically valuable resources within Greek ethnopharmacological traditions. If sustainably managed, they can generate income through certified wild harvesting, small-scale processing, eco-labelling, and biodiversity-based tourism. Importantly, wild medicinal plants contribute to ecosystem services: their recognised value motivates habitat protection, preserves cultural heritage, and supports sustainable local economies.

Implications. Future work of this framework may include spatial mapping (Takubessi et al., 2025) of ecosystem service supply, integrating medicinal plant distribution, habitat vulnerability, and tourism pressure, following established ecosystem service assessment methodologies.

References

Alrhmoun, M., N. Sulaim, I.Ullah, R. Sõukand, A. Pieroni. 2025. Biocultural diversity at risk amidst and beyond overtourism: the decline in wild green foraging in Corfu over the past 50 years. Land 14 (3): 654.

Mykhailenko, O., B. Jalil, L. J. McGaw, J. Echeverría, M. Takubessi, M. Heinrich. 2025. Climate change and the sustainable use of medicinal plants: a call for “new” research strategies. Frontiers in Pharmacol. 15:1496792.

Prada, J., L.-T. Dinis, E. Soriato, E. Vandelle, O. Soletkin, Ş. Uysal, A. Dihazi, C. Santos, J. A. Santos. 2024. Climate change impact on Mediterranean viticultural regions and site-specific climate risk-reduction strategies. Mitig. Adapt. Strateg. Glob. Chang. 29: 52.

Takubessi, M.I., Jalil, B., Heinrich, M. 2025. The impact of climate change on medicinal plants and natural products: A scoping review. Front Pharmacol. 16:1697581.