Natural plants growing in the wild are a form of wildlife resource.  These resources have significant value to human beings, as well as value as a part of nature.

Many economic benefits are given to humanity by the planet's plant resources.  Plants provide the materials needed for food, spices, flavors and scents.  They also make certain commercial products possible such as soap, paper, fuel, fibers, rubber, medicine, dyes, and waxes.

The Leaves of Various Plants.  Photo Credit: ClickART Image Pak.

Today, domesticated plants supply the world with 90% of its food.  These plants were originally found in the tropics, but were taken back to other locations and domesticated.

There are many reasons to keep wild plants around.  Many environmental activists and others have campaigned to preserve this integral part of nature.

Plants provide beauty and happiness to the world and its human inhabitants.  The aesthetic and recreational value of wild plants make the resource very important.

Plants also form an essential part of the ecosystem.  Without them, countless ecosystems would be destroyed, with disastrous results for the other living organisms that inhabit the ecosystems.

Many people also feel that destroying our plant resources is ethically wrong.  These people might hold a biocentric view of the world, and often believe that every species has the right to survive.  They feel that whenever a plant or animal species goes extinct, the Earth has experienced a great loss.