Let it Grow (Back): A Call for the Conservation of Secondary Forests as Medicinal Plant Habitat

Costa Rica is widely regarded as a global leader in conservation practices. In the Maquenque National Wildlife Refuge (MNWLR), within Rica’s Northern Zone, strong commitment to has led protecting highly biodiverse mature forests. However, significant opportunity strengthen this region being overlooked at great cost local community and environment: protection of regenerating secondary Secondary forests account for over 50% tropical serve vital ecological cultural functions. Within MNWLR, many species provide medicinal value rural communities where western medical care difficult access. Recent research, however, shown that are re-cleared 20 years, before they have accumulated previously lost biomass biodiversity. paper, we call management strategies incorporate held knowledge about culturally species, there be economic incentives keeping intact determining which designated Protected Areas. We discuss previous research with two trees common MNWLR (Vismia macrophylla Pentaclethra macroloba), recognizing these some potential both social communities. While our focus area Zone Rica, integration use into should priority.