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Medicinal Plant Ethnoecology and Climate Change: Implications for Conservation, Health and the Environment

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Ethnoecology and Medicinal Plants of the Highland Maya

Part of the book series: Ethnobiology ((EBL))

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Abstract

The implications of this work for conservation, health, and the environment is discussed. The potential impact of climate change on medicinal plant ethnoecology in Highland Chiapas is examined. Climate change is already occurring in Highland Chiapas. The most utilized medicinal plant species will likely experience little impact from climate change due to their widespread availability and abundance. However, more obscure medicinal plant species are likely to be impacted. In addition to affecting medicinal plant yield, climate change can have an impact on medicinal plant quality. Future directions in medical ethnobotanical research in the region are explored.

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Stepp, J.R. (2018). Medicinal Plant Ethnoecology and Climate Change: Implications for Conservation, Health and the Environment. In: Ethnoecology and Medicinal Plants of the Highland Maya. Ethnobiology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69315-6_7

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