Impact of Deforestation on Medicinal Plants in Ghana

Impact of Deforestation on Medicinal Plants in Ghana PDF Author: Emmanuel Boon
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3640143086
Category : Botany, Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 54

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Book Description
Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2008 in the subject Forestry / Forestry Economics, Vrije University Brussel (Human Ecology Department), 52 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: The role of medicinal plants in traditional health care delivery in Ghana cannot be overemphasized. More than 250 indigenous trees and plants with healing properties have been scientifically catalogued in Ghana. Unfortunately, the very foundation upon which the medicinal plant species and the traditional health care system survive is threatened by deforestation. The rate of deforestation has increased by 50% over the last ten years, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The current area of intact forest is now estimated at between 10.9 and 11.8% of the original cover and 6.9% of the country's total area. Deforestation is changing the habitats of disease-carrying insects and creating conditions that may help to spread malaria, river blindness and other devastating illnesses. Moreover, since the majority of the rural poor in Ghana depends on traditional medicine for their health care needs, the present high rate of deforestation will have a detrimental effect on the heath care delivery system in the country. Important plant species will be lost to deforestation unless urgent measures are taken. This paper examines the impact of deforestation on medicinal plants in Ghana.

Impact of Deforestation on Medicinal Plants in Ghana

Impact of Deforestation on Medicinal Plants in Ghana PDF Author: Emmanuel Boon
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3640143086
Category : Botany, Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 54

Get Book

Book Description
Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2008 in the subject Forestry / Forestry Economics, Vrije University Brussel (Human Ecology Department), 52 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: The role of medicinal plants in traditional health care delivery in Ghana cannot be overemphasized. More than 250 indigenous trees and plants with healing properties have been scientifically catalogued in Ghana. Unfortunately, the very foundation upon which the medicinal plant species and the traditional health care system survive is threatened by deforestation. The rate of deforestation has increased by 50% over the last ten years, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The current area of intact forest is now estimated at between 10.9 and 11.8% of the original cover and 6.9% of the country's total area. Deforestation is changing the habitats of disease-carrying insects and creating conditions that may help to spread malaria, river blindness and other devastating illnesses. Moreover, since the majority of the rural poor in Ghana depends on traditional medicine for their health care needs, the present high rate of deforestation will have a detrimental effect on the heath care delivery system in the country. Important plant species will be lost to deforestation unless urgent measures are taken. This paper examines the impact of deforestation on medicinal plants in Ghana.

Oxford Textbook of Nature and Public Health

Oxford Textbook of Nature and Public Health PDF Author: Matilda van den Bosch
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198725914
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 361

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Book Description
Human beings have always been affected by their surroundings. There are various health benefits linked to being able to access to nature; including increased physical activity, stress recovery, and the stimulation of child cognitive development. The Oxford Textbook of Nature and Public Health provides a broad and inclusive picture of the relationship between our own health and the natural environment. All aspects of this unique relationship are covered, ranging from disease prevention through physical activity in green spaces to innovative ecosystem services, such as climate change adaptation by urban trees. Potential hazardous consequences are also discussed including natural disasters, vector-borne pathogens, and allergies. This book analyses the complexity of our human interaction with nature and includes sections for example epigenetics, stress physiology, and impact assessments. These topics are all interconnected and fundamental for reaching a full understanding of the role of nature in public health and wellbeing. Much of the recent literature on environmental health has primarily described potential threats from our natural surroundings. The Oxford Textbook of Nature and Public Health instead focuses on how nature can positively impact our health and wellbeing, and how much we risk losing by destroying it. The all-inclusive approach provides a comprehensive and complete coverage of the role of nature in public health, making this textbook invaluable reading for health professionals, students, and researchers within public health, environmental health, and complementary medicine.

Fibres

Fibres PDF Author: Brink, M. & Achigan-Dako, E.G.
Publisher: PROTA
ISBN: 9290814810
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 604

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Book Description
This volume deals with the fibres of Tropical Africa. 515 ‘primary use’ fibres are described in 248 review articles. Many of the articles are illustrated with a geographic distribution map and a line drawing of the habit.

Plant Conservation in the Tropics

Plant Conservation in the Tropics PDF Author: Mike Maunder
Publisher: Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
ISBN:
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 666

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Book Description
Plant Conservation in the Tropics presents a set of case studies reviewing some of the most pertinent plant conservation being carried out by experts at the tropical biodiversity frontline.

The local social and environmental impacts of biofuel feedstock expansion: a synthesis of case studies from Asia, Africa and Latin America

The local social and environmental impacts of biofuel feedstock expansion: a synthesis of case studies from Asia, Africa and Latin America PDF Author: German, L., Schoneveld, G., Skutsch, M, Andriani, R., Obidzinski, K., Pacheco, P., Komarudin, H., Andrianto, A., Lima, M., Dayang Norwana, A.A.B.
Publisher: CIFOR
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 12

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Book Description


Environmental Health

Environmental Health PDF Author: James A. Listorti
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 9780821346877
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 408

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Book Description
Environmental health remains at the periphery of sustainable development, because it is inadequately defined and institutionally fragmented. This publication aims to provide ways of addressing this multisectoral problem. It is in three parts. The first looks at harmonising sectoral priorities and shows that environmental health can target at least as much disease as the health sector. The second part provides environmental health assessment guidelines. The third part looks at the results of a pilot project to put theory into practice in Ghana.

Medicinal Plants for Forest Conservation and Health Care

Medicinal Plants for Forest Conservation and Health Care PDF Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
ISBN: 9789251040638
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 168

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Book Description
This volume brings together a collection of papers by some experts in medicinal plants. It is presented as a contribution to clarifying the many policy and technical issues associated with the conservation, use, production and trade of medicinal plants. This publication draws attention to the huge contribution of medicinal plants to traditional and modern health care systems, but also alert the readers on the many problems and challenges facing their sustainable development, such as: assessment and management of the medicinal plant resource base; best harvesting and processing practices; trade issues and aspects dealing with the intellectual property rights on traditional medicine by indigenous peoples. The use of this document will help raise the awareness on medicinal plants as an important forest resource, and will help ensure that medicinal plants are adequately included in forest conservation and utilization programmes.

The Cost of Environmental Degradation

The Cost of Environmental Degradation PDF Author: Lelia Croitoru
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 0821383965
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 188

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Book Description
How much is a cleaner environment worth? For policy makers, that question used to go largely unanswered. Many economic activities cause environmental degradation, entailing real costs to the economy and to people's welfare. Knowing the extent of these costs is crucial for identifying a country's main environmental priorities and allocating appropriate funds for environmental protection. Over the past decade, the World Bank has initiated a systematic effort to measure the costs of environmental degradation in the Middle East and North Africa, shedding new light on their magnitude and on the need for policy changes. In many cases, these costs were found to be surprisingly large. 'The Cost of Environmental Degradation: Case Studies from the Middle East and North Africa' brings together the best case studies of this program and summarizes their policy impacts at the national and regional levels. The case studies quantify monetarily the annual damage due to environmental degradation and express these estimates as percentages of the countries' gross domestic product. The studies use the most recent environmental valuation methods to estimate the economic costs resulting from air pollution, water degradation, deforestation, and land degradation. Uniquely, the book dedicates a case study to value the costs of environmental degradation resulting from an oil spill and demolition waste in times of conflict. The studies then illuminate the concrete implications on policy, investments, and institutions for the respective nations. This book will be of interest to policy makers, nongovernmental organizations, and academic and research institutions.

Conserving medicinal species : securing a healthy future

Conserving medicinal species : securing a healthy future PDF Author:
Publisher: IUCN
ISBN: 9789558177419
Category : Biodiversity
Languages : en
Pages : 196

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Book Description


Forests and Human Health

Forests and Human Health PDF Author: Carol J. Pierce Colfer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Electronic book
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description