Olha Mykhailenko

From plant blindness to plant awareness

Abstract A tendency to pay limited attention to plants, often described as “plant blindness”, can lead to failing to recognise their biological, ecological and societal importance. This opinion paper argues that botanical education should be an integral part of environmental education and sustainable development, not a narrowly specialised branch of biology. The paper proposes that plant education should connect botanical knowledge with biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, human health, the food system and responsible decision-making. This should be achieved through age-appropriate, experiential approaches in both formal and informal education settings. Integrating botany into school curricula, higher education, and community-based learning can strengthen the connection between plant knowledge and biological, ecological, health, and environmental contexts, thereby fostering ecological literacy. Plant education is not a nostalgic return to classical botany; rather, it develops the knowledge and competencies needed to understand biodiversity, use biological resources responsibly, and respond to environmental and climate challenges. Recognising and teaching the ecological and societal value of plants is essential for fostering an informed attitude towards biodiversity and encouraging responsible environmental action. In conclusion, to envision the future, we must first learn to appreciate the value of plants.

Doi https://doi.org/10.35513/Botlit.2026.3.2

Keywords biodiversity conservation, botany, citizen science, environmental education, plants, sustainability

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