(Thanks to Forbidden Science for bringing this to my attention)
A recent Reuters story says...
The percentage of the world's plants threatened with extinction is much larger than commonly believed, and could be as high as 47 percent if tropical species are included...
I'm troubled by this story not just because I'm an herbalist, but because I'm frightened to what's happening to life on our planet. Let me state that I completely understand that extinction is the way things go on this world. No species is immune to this natural progression of life. It's just the way things work.
What's sad is how quickly a single species is hastening the demise of so many other companion species. Sadder yet is the fact that I'm part of this species that seems to have not a care for the wellbeing of the other beings on this planet, nor the delicate balance that allows us to enjoy conditions which provide for our own prosperity.
Luckily, not all humans are hellbent on destructive practices. One organization in particular, the United Plant Savers, is dedicated to the preservation of a variety of medicinal plants that are threatened. I encourage all of you to contribute to this organization and to spread the word of their efforts.