Fostering Health Security Through Biodiversity: A Case Study from Ogun and Lagos States, Nigeria

Abstract

Over three-quarters of the world’s population is using herbal medicines with an increasing trend globally. Herbal medicines are beneficial because medicinal plants are used to address the twin challenge of promoting sustainable livelihoods and treating numerous illnesses in Nigeria. However, in a recent study conducted among Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) in Ogun and Lagos States, Southwest Nigeria, it was confirmed that there are signs that the impacts of climate change are already being felt, not only in terms of increase in temperature, but also in respect of the availability of medicinal plants for the treatment of diseases in the forest zone of Nigeria where these states are located. Based on this, the aim of the study is to provide a better understanding of how TMPs contribute to the social, economic, and political problems posed by climate change in Africa and to identify the processes, methods, and tools which may help Africans at the grassroots adapt and make positive contribution to mitigate the effects of climate change. Snowball sampling method was used to identify the respondents, and data was collected using in-depth/structured interviews and review of secondary data. As outcome of this work, some developed tools may be used to encourage and guide specific actions to adapt to changing climatic conditions. In addition, it was possible to outline some steps which may be taken in order to create a more systematic method of adaptation strategies by organizations and people interested in the different levels of responses given to climate change induced threats in Nigeria and Africa.