The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ghana has marked this year’s World Wildlife Day with a renewed call for environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, underscoring the critical role plants play in global healthcare and human survival.

In a public awareness flyer posted on Facebook to commemorate the day, observed annually on March 3, the agency revealed that more than 60,000 plant species worldwide are estimated to be used for medicinal and related purposes.

The figure highlights the immense value of plant biodiversity not only for ecosystems but also for traditional and modern medicine.

The campaign message forms part of broader efforts by the EPA to promote sustainable use of natural resources and encourage citizens to safeguard Ghana’s forests, wetlands and wildlife habitats.

According to the agency, protecting plant species is directly linked to public health, food security and economic resilience.

Many communities, particularly in Africa, continue to rely on herbal and plant-based remedies as primary sources of treatment, making conservation a matter of both environmental and social importance.

The flyer, which features a blooming medicinal plant, also reiterates the EPA’s guiding principle: “Protecting the Environment, Our Collective Responsibility.”

The commemoration serves as a reminder that habitat destruction and deforestation - locally driven by illegal felling and mining - and climate change threaten thousands of useful plant species, potentially undermining future medical discoveries and traditional healing practices.

Through education and advocacy, the EPA is urging individuals, communities and institutions to adopt environmentally responsible practices, including tree planting, sustainable harvesting and the protection of natural ecosystems.

World Wildlife Day is globally observed to celebrate biodiversity and raise awareness about the need to conserve flora and fauna for present and future generations.