This book explores how plants can help us build a more secure, healthy, and climate-resilient future. It highlights the importance of conserving plant diversity and using traditional knowledge to improve food systems in the face of climate challenges.

The chapters cover a wide range of topics—from climate-smart agriculture and the use of wild and traditional food plants to the role of algae and hemp as future food sources. It also includes case studies from different regions like Pakistan, Morocco, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, showcasing local knowledge, conservation efforts, and the value of native plants. Some chapters discuss how biodiversity links to health, focusing on food plants that can help fight diseases and improve nutrition.

This book is a valuable resource for students, researchers, environmentalists, and professionals working in agriculture, climate change, ethnobotany, and food systems. It is especially useful for anyone interested in sustainable development, plant conservation, or how traditional knowledge can help solve today’s global challenges.

Prof. Dr. Rahmatullah Qureshi is an internationally recognized botanist and leading researcher in plant biodiversity, conservation ecology, and natural products. He serves as Dean, Faculty of Sciences at PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi. With over 30 years of experience, he earned M.Sc. (1996) and Ph.D. (2005) in Botany from Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Pakistan.

After qualifying as a Seed Certification Officer (2002), he gained expertise in seed science and quality assurance. In 2007, he joined PMAS AAUR, rising to Professor, Dean, and Director of the National Hemp Cultivation Project, introducing new degree programs. His national hemp initiative positioned Pakistan for global medicinal and industrial hemp markets.
Dr. Qureshi is a foremost expert on Pakistan’s plant biodiversity, conducting fieldwork across all ecological zones. He collaborated with WWF Pakistan and other bodies, supporting biodiversity assessments of the Indus Ecoregion, Hingol and Khunjerab National Parks, Lal Suhanra, Taunsa Wildlife Sanctuary, Sindh’s Ramsar sites, Nara, Thar, Thal, Cholistan Deserts, and Neelum Valley. He has led 12 national projects and 12 consultancies. 

Prof. Qureshi has published over 300 peer-reviewed articles, 4 books, and 36 book chapters (Springer, Taylor & Francis). His work has >8200 citations, h-index 47, i10-index 166, and he is ranked among the Top 2% Global Scientists by Stanford Elsevier. He has supervised 19 PhD, 77 M.Phil., and over 200 M.Sc. students.
He serves as Vice President (Punjab) of the Pakistan Botanical Society and on editorial boards of various high-impact journals. He received five Research Productivity Awards, three consecutive Best Research Professor Awards, organized 25 conferences, and delivered over 50 keynote/invited talks worldwide.

He filed seven patents in herbal therapeutics, nutraceuticals, and hemp technologies, founded university spin-off Himalaya Hemp & Health (Pvt.) Ltd., which launched 20 commercial products. His work shaped environmental policy, biodiversity strategies, and sustainable development in Pakistan. He also established a YouTube channel "Explore Nature with Prof. Dr. Rahmatullah Qureshi" to raise public awareness about plant diversity and ecosystem services.

Through scientific rigor and visionary leadership, Prof. Dr. Rahmatullah Qureshi stands as one of the most influential botanists in the region, inspiring future generations and advancing sustainable use of plant resources.