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Indigenous people living in rural areas throughout the world harvest plants for their medicinal properties, motivated by cultural traditions, survival needs and for income. The Medicinal Plants project is establishing the type of flora used for medicinal purposes among the Samburu, as well as the extent of use and how it impacts resource sustainability. This information is being used to build an understanding of the relationship between biodiversity and local knowledge. This has the potential application of community-based management of biological resources of the area, while enhancing the sustainable exploitation of its resources. This image illustrates just one of the myriad of different sizes, shapes and colours of medicinal plants in the Samburu area.