WildCheck
The trade in medicinal and aromatic plants has increased by approximately 20% over the past two decades. At the same time, 10% of these species are at risk of extinction in the wild. Europe is the leading importer and exporter of these plants, which are often sourced from some of the world’s most fragile ecosystems. Despite this, the social and ecological impacts of wild plant trade are rarely taken into account. However, new EU legislation on transparency and environmental responsibility presents an opportunity to engage policymakers and businesses in accelerating the transition to sustainable wild-sourced products.
Through its project, TRAFFIC International aims to raise awareness of the wild plant trade and thereby create the conditions for making it more sustainable – contributing to the protection of ecologically sensitive ecosystems.
The project is supported with 2 990 000 SEK.
What will happen in the project?
To shed light on the trade in wild plants, TRAFFIC will produce new data and communication materials on various species of wild plants and fungi.
- – They will assess the risks and opportunities associated with 90 species and publish the findings on an open-access platform.
- – They will highlight existing standards for monitoring and reporting that companies can use to make their supply chains more sustainable.
- – The materials will be disseminated to consumers, policymakers, and businesses.
- – The project will also include advocacy efforts targeting decision-makers.
Why was the project supported?
Wild plants and fungi are found in many everyday products, such as cosmetics, wellness items, health products, and food. Yet, the trade in these species has received limited attention, despite its significant impact on species viability, surrounding ecosystems, and the livelihoods of communities in harvesting regions. With new EU legislation on the horizon, there is now a timely opportunity to bring greater attention to this issue and drive meaningful change.
Project time status
1%
This project started in July 2025 and ends in June 2027
For more information: https://www.traffic.org/
