Report available on FAO website

Wild plants are significant across socio-economic groups and geographic regions. A wander through the kitchen may reveal Brazil nuts in your cupboard, Gum Arabic in your soda and liquorice in your herbal tea. Your bathroom may have lotions or makeup containing candelilla wax or skincare products made with baobab or argan oil. Frankincense or Jatamansi may be found on the bedroom table as an ingredient in your perfume. 

Behind seemingly minor ingredients lie complex supply chains and significant environmental and social risks. But there are also opportunities for sustainable management that could benefit the local ecosystem and communities that depend on these plants.”

Caitlin Schindler, TRAFFIC’s Wild at Home Project Manager and lead author of the WildCheck report

Thousands of plant species used in everyday products are at risk primarily due to habitat loss and other factors such as climate change and over-exploitation. Of the 21 per cent of medicinal and aromatic plant species whose vulnerability status has been assessed, nine per cent are considered threatened with extinction. However, the people who depend on specific species for vital income are also often exposed to socio-economic, political and sometimes health risks too.  

The report ‘WildCheck: Assessing risks and opportunities of trade in wild plant ingredients’, is launched to coincide with this year's celebration of Earth Day, and highlights the opportunities for sustainable trade development amid a surge in global demand for wild plant ingredients (an increase of more than 75 per cent in value over the past two decades).  

Sven Walter, Senior Forestry Officer at FAO adds; “The sustainable use of wild plants has critical implications for food security and for millions of livelihoods around the world. It is time that wild plants are given more serious consideration in our efforts to protect and restore habitats, promote sustainable agrifood systems and build inclusive, resilient and sustainable economies, particularly as countries work on post-Covid recovery.”

The report evaluates twelve flagship wild plant species, dubbed the ‘Wild Dozen’ assigning the species’ harvest social and biological ratings to highlight where improvements can be made. Of the twelve flagship wild-harvested ingredients reviewed, the majority of the risk assessment results (both biological and social) are Medium or High, with only one Low biological and one Low social result. This shows that these ingredients must be considered in due diligence, policies, and purchasing decisions. However, across the twelve ingredients, a range of engaging opportunities are noted including sustainable harvest, wildlife conservation and restoration, access and benefit sharing, research, partnerships, and engagement with best-practice standards and certification. The outlook for these flagships, and for wild ingredients as a whole, can be bright if appropriate actions such as those suggested throughout the report are taken by various stakeholders now. 

The purpose of our social and biological risk ratings is not to dissuade businesses and consumers from using wild plant ingredients that can be harvested sustainably. On the contrary, it is to guide where steps can be taken to secure the long-term survival of wild-harvested species and availability of the sourced ingredients, improve marginalised livelihoods and enhance business ethics.”

Danna J. Leaman, Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Medicinal Plant Specialist Group and co-author on the report

With responsible sourcing, these ingredients can support broader wildlife conservation and improve the livelihoods of some of the 1 billion of the world's most vulnerable people who are thought to depend on them. 

“Linking with this year’s Earth Day theme 'Invest In Our Planet', the report emphasises that it's time for businesses to invest in responsible sourcing of wild plant ingredients and the opportunities to support the conservation of iconic animals and the livelihoods that depend on these plants,” said Caitlin Schindler and similar to another TRAFFIC project doing just that; read about TRAFFIC’s Jatamansi project in Nepal.

“Other stakeholders have a role to play too. Governments and researchers must prioritise data collection and research on these important yet often invisible ingredients to secure an ongoing sustainable trade for plants and people.”  

“It is an important year for the global biodiversity conservation effort, with governments, businesses and the public coming together around the ambitious Global Biodiversity Framework. Sustainable use of wild species, including wild plant resources in everyday products, is an important strategy to ensure the multiple benefits to nature and people. This ground-breaking report paves the way for the necessary change in the marketplace for these often ‘hidden’ resources. We call for ambitious commitments that businesses, investors, and governments can make through the #WeUseWild pledge,” said Anastasiya Timoshyna, TRAFFIC’s Senior Programme Coordinator – Sustainable Trade.

The Wild Dozen  

• Frankincense: Found in north-eastern parts of Africa, as well as in Oman, Somalia and Yemen, its resin is used for incense, aromatherapy, cosmetics, perfumes and traditional medicines.  

• Pygeum: Also listed in ingredients for medicines and herbal products as Prunus, African cherry, red stinkwood or African almond, this tree grows in forests across tropical Africa.  

• Shea: grows across Africa, from Senegal to Uganda. Used widely in the food industry as a cocoa butter equivalent, it is also popular in cosmetics. Locally, it is used as a healthy cooking oil.  

• Jatamansi: A perennial, aromatic plant that grows in the Himalayas, its roots are harvested for their medicinal properties.  

• Gum arabic: This species grows in the gum belt region of Africa and is primarily used in the food and pharmaceutical industries as an additive, emulsifier or stabilizer. It is a popular ingredient in fizzy drinks.  

• Goldenseal: Also known as ground raspberry, this species is native to eastern North America and is primarily used for medicinal products. 

• Candelilla: Found in Mexico and parts of the southern United States, candelilla wax was once a common ingredient in chewing gum. Now, it is used as a food additive (E902) and in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, as well as industrial waxes and polishes.  

• Argan: Also known as Moroccan oil, its anti-ageing properties make it a popular choice among European and North American consumers of cosmetics, while its oil is also used to treat several ailments, from acne to arthritis. It is harvested exclusively from Morocco.  

• Baobab: The Adansonia digitata variety of this species is native to mainland Africa. Baobab powder is used as a food and beverage ingredient, while its seed oil is used as a cosmetic ingredient.  

• Brazil nut: Harvested entirely from the wild, the tree is primarily exploited for its nutritious, edible nuts which are packed with nutrients and antioxidants such as magnesium, zinc, protein and selenium. Its harvesting has contributed to preserving millions of hectares of Amazonian forests, which is why it is often called the cornerstone of Amazon Forest conservation.  

• Liquorice: This perennial herb is native to Eurasia, northern Africa and western Asia, and is primarily used for medicinal purposes, as a sweetener, as an ingredient in herbal teas, and in the tobacco industry.  

• Juniper: Juniperus communis is a species of the temperate and subarctic northern hemisphere. Its berries are a key ingredient in gin manufacturing. They are also used as a food flavouring, an essential oil, an ingredient in cosmetics, and have a long history of use in traditional medicines and religion.  

Following the report, businesses are urged to access the WildCheck Platform (coming soon from TRAFFIC) for risk assessments and responsible sourcing advice and to take action by signing the #WeUseWild Pledge.