Article

Nature's Contributions to People (NCP): case of aromatic and medicinal plants in Morocco

Authors:
Jamaleddine M.
,
Taleb M.S.
,
Rhazi L.
Publication: Flora Mediterranea
Pages: 109-118
Supplemental material: Download
Article history:
  1. Received

  2. (last) revision received

  3. Accepted

  4. Published online

Abstract

Nature’s contributions to people (NCP) refers to all contributions, beneficial or harmful, that people, individually or collectively, derive from nature at various scales. NCP offers a pluralistic framework for understanding how the status and trends of nature - including biodiversity and ecological processes - are linked to changes in people’s quality of life, while at the same time acknowledging a plurality of perspectives and world views on human-nature relations. NCP serves as an umbrella embodying different concepts, such as ecosystem goods and services, nature’s gifts, and many others, and facilitates respectful collaboration between knowledge systems and world views. Morocco's aromatic and medicinal plants (AMP) are classified as a type of NCP by IPBES (Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services). These high-value products contribute to the country's socio-economic development. In addition to this material contribution, the Moroccan pharmacopoeia is a nonmaterial contribution strongly linked to the use of AMPs. Morocco has a long-standing tradition and considerable expertise in phytotherapy.

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