“There is a tree in the centre of our village that no one will dare cut down,” Chief Olabisi Adewale, a cabinet member of the king of Ebga land, an Ogun State community, begins in a deep voice.
“They say that if you cut it down, the spirits will take your first child. But do you know what it also does? It purifies the air, birds live in it, and it produces medicine for the fever that gets us every rainy season.”
These superstitions and beliefs have long dictated how humans interact with nature, at times forming an unspoken conservation rule. The fear of being punished by a superior being has, in many cases, preserved sacred forests, protected rare tree species and prevented medicinal plants from over-exploitation.
But in a world rapidly pursuing modernity, can traditional medicine still advocate for biodiversity?
For centuries, herbal medicine has been a discreet guardian of Nigeria’s forests, connecting human health and conservation. Nigeria boasts over 8,000 recorded plant species, many of which are used in traditional healing.
However, as conventional medicine reigns supreme and deforestation accelerates, this delicate balance is crumbling. These species are not only medicinal resources but also keystones in their ecosystems. Conservation and sustainable use of these species have been woven into cultural practices to maintain their availability.
Yet Nigeria faces a severe deforestation crisis, losing forests at a rate of 3.7% annually. This rapid decline threatens both biodiversity and traditional knowledge systems built around these natural resources.
Alagba Fatai, a native herbalist who resides in Abeokuta, grinds together leaves, bark and roots. “See this bark?” he holds up a piece of wood. “It’s from the Irosun tree. We use it for blood purification. But the spirits will punish anyone who cuts it down thoughtlessly. We only take what we need.“
His words echo the principles of sustainable harvesting, an age-old practice rooted in respect for nature. Herbalists like Alagba Fatai serve as custodians of conservation, ensuring plants are harvested in a way that allows regeneration. “We never strip a tree bare. We replant what we take away,” he explains.
Traditional leaders also help sustain these traditions. Chief Olabisi describes how his ancestors reserved parts of the forests as sacred, banning indiscriminate tree-felling and hunting within their borders. “We have rules,” he says. “Nobody approaches the sacred groves without permission. This has kept our land fertile and our medicine abundant.”
Yet, despite such age-old traditions, mounting commercial demand for herbal medicine—both locally and internationally—has led to overharvesting. The global herbal medicine market was valued at USD70.57 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 20.91% from 2024 to 2030.
This expansion is driven by increased health consciousness, consumer preference for natural products, and advancements in herbal drug extraction and formulation. But at what cost?
“The problem is not herbal medicine,” says Abigail Adeniyi, a student of agriculture at the University of Abuja, “but how it is now being harvested uncontrollably. Trees that once lasted for generations are now being destroyed in years.”
Unregulated harvesting has placed various plant species at risk. The African Cherry (Prunus africana), once common in Nigerian forests, is now classified as vulnerable because of excessive bark harvesting for prostate treatment.
Similarly, the Yohimbe tree, prized for its aphrodisiac properties, is rapidly disappearing from the wild.
To counter these threats, some communities in Ogun State are bridging tradition with science. In collaboration with conservation NGOs, local governments have established community-run nurseries where medicinal plants are cultivated instead of being overharvested from their natural habitats.
“We teach young herbalists how to grow the plants they need,” says Chief Olabisi. “This prevents us from exhausting them. We also encourage farmers and herbalists to replace plants when they become scarce.”
A 2021 study, Which Plants for What Ailments: A Quantitative Analysis of Medicinal Ethnobotany of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria, documented 87 plant species across 43 families, detailing their medicinal applications.
The research aimed to quantify medicinal ethnobotanical data and create a baseline for future conservation efforts, ensuring these species do not fade into oblivion.
The survival of traditional herbal medicine is intertwined with the fate of Nigeria’s forests. As forests vanish, so do valuable medicinal plants. But the reverse is also true: saving these plants means preserving the forests that sustain them.
“If we destroy our forests, we destroy our own medicine,” Alagba Fatai says solemnly. “But if we respect our plants, they will heal us for generations.”
Ultimately, the stories told through the hands of herbalists and the decrees of traditional rulers hold a crucial lesson. Conservation is not just about saving trees and animals; it is about preserving culture, health and the delicate balance between humans and nature.
Perhaps, when science and tradition collaborate, history can offer solutions for a sustainable future. And perhaps, just perhaps, the spirits guarding the sacred groves are not mere myths but nature’s way of demanding respect.
In the village of Ebga in Ogun State, a sacred tree stands symbolizing an unspoken conservation rule state by Chief Olabisi. This tree, believed to bring harm if cut, also provides vital ecological and medicinal benefits. Such beliefs have historically safeguarded biodiversity in Nigeria, promoting an intuitive respect for nature despite the global march towards modernity. However, with contemporary pressures like deforestation accelerating at alarming rates, the intricate balance between human health and herbal medicine is deteriorating. Nigeria, home to over 8,000 plant species used in traditional medicine, faces a crisis as unsustainable harvest practices intensify. For instance, excessive bark extraction of trees like the African Cherry and Yohimbe is pushing these species towards extinction.
Herbalists like Alagba Fatai emphasize the need for sustainable harvesting, aligning with practices passed down by ancestors. Nigeria's deforestation crisis threatens biodiversity, pivotal traditional knowledge, and medicine. Responding to these threats, some communities in Ogun State collaborate with NGOs to establish nurseries growing medicinal plants responsibly. This initiative aims to nurture a culture of replanting and sustainable use, preventing overharvesting. As the herbal medicine market expands globally, driven by consumer preference for natural products, the challenge to balance traditional beliefs with sustainable practices mounts.
Chief Olabisi expresses that the preservation of sacred groves and traditional rules has maintained the land's fertility and ensured an abundance of medicinal plants. Abigail Adeniyi, an agriculture student, voices concerns over unregulated harvesting, stressing how plants that once thrived for generations now face swift destruction. Collaboration between science and tradition represents a path to sustainability, underscoring the need to preserve both culture and the ecosystems that support traditional medicine. Respect for these ancient practices is not just about saving flora but about conserving culture and the age-old balance of humans with nature.
