Climate Change Governance and Medicinal-Plant Vulnerability in Nigeria: International Commitments, Institutional Capacity and Herbal Entrepreneurship, 2000–2025

Abstract

There is a growing interdependency between climate change and ecological degradation, livelihood vulnerability and resource dependent economic activities in developing countries. Temperature, precipitation and extreme climate events can impact the ecosystems, biodiversity and livelihoods, especially in regions with environmental vulnerability (IPCC 2022). In Nigeria, medicinal plants play a vital role in traditional medicine, traditional knowledge and herbal medicine trade, which is jeopardized by the effects of climate variability, drought, flooding, habitat loss, deforestation, land-use change and unsustainable harvesting (Chen et al., 2016; WHO, 2011; Rafiu et al., 2025). This study explores the linkages between climate change related environmental pressures, medicinal-plant vulnerability and herbal entrepreneurship in Nigeria in the period 2000-2025, covering climate governance, institutional capacity and resource dependent livelihoods. A qualitative documentary evidence-review design was applied, and the publications along three time frames (2000–2008; 2009–2016; 2017–2025) were systematically screened, coded and themed. The results show evidence of medicinal plants availability and supply constraints, and the overall scientific evidence suggests climate impacts on plant habitats and ecological conditions (IPCC, 2022). But there is limited Nigeria-specific longitudinal evidence of separating climate change effects from other factors. Evidence is thus greater for resource vulnerability than climate attribution, for example for procurement costs, prices, sales and entrepreneurial income. The study suggests sustainable harvesting and conservation, cultivation, community monitoring and institutional value-chain support and coordination.