Endangered Species and Medicine

Plant and animal life is necessary for the survival of humans but there has been a rise in the amount of endangered animals and plants worldwide. In reference to this, there are various ways to help the environment and to also help endangered species of plants and animals to thrive, including taking care not to practice overconsumption and other wasteful habits. When it comes to plant and animal life on this planet many different endangered species are necessary for the medicinal purposes of humans. This in part contributes to the amount of endangered animals and plants on the planet but if many of these endangered species become extinct many medicines that we use will as well. It is estimated that about 40% of all medications come from various species of plants and animals. In addition to this these animals and plants contribute to human economies across the world with the pharmaceutical industry making a staggering $40 billion every year.

The Pacific yew is a plant that is detrimental to many medications in the world. This slow growing plant that is located mostly in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. This plant contains a substance that has been very useful in the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer in women. In the past the plant was known as a non useful plant and was often burned down when clearing forest spaces for farm land. Now with this species of plant becoming endangered research has found that it can be useful in many ways. Many other species of plant and animals such as this that have yet to be correlated with medical science exist around the world so it is important that we preserve these species for medical and other purposes. If we do not help in saving the environment through preserving plant and animal species of all kinds then we may never know what secrets they have hidden in their DNA that can help to eradicate many diseases that humans suffer through.