Muiri tree

The muiri tree (Prunus africanus) has been used for thousands of years by inhabitants of East Africa for treating various ailments. However, recently European pharmaceutical companies have discovered its potential and have hired agents to harvest the tree by improper methods and to an unsustainable degree. Consequently, very few of the trees now remain and the species is one of the most endangered species on Earth.

References

* [http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-05-22-voa24.cfm VOA News - Africa's Medicine Tree Facing Extinction From Greed, Corruption]