[MPWG] Demand for Rhodiola from the wild

[Eric T Jones]

Dear MPWG,

In reading the article the conclusions of the research sound dubious to me 
and I wish that we would not circulate mass media articles on this 
list.  Though the research article upon which the story is based isn't 
available yet they have put out a press release reuters?  In the article 
they say that the analysis is based on a the number of species on the IUCN 
list harvested from the wild.  The implication is that if the source is 
wild it is unsustainable.  Well, if inventory and monitoring of commercial 
herbals is anything like it is in the U.S. (virtually nonexistent) then 
they probably don't have any biological/ecological data to back of their 
claims.

I'm not saying that global economics can't lead to pressures on natural 
resources but let's be careful about what we endorse.


At 1/8/2004, Robyn Klein wrote:
>Here is an article on Rhodiola rosea, which is fast becoming the new 
>exotic herb.  Late in the article is mention of the problem of finding 
>sustainable sources.  This is a long-lived plant. I'm not sure how long it 
>takes to reach marketable size.
>
>http://www.herbsforhealth.com/01_04/rhodiola.asp
>
>Robyn Klein
>Department of Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology
>Montana State University
>Bozeman, Montana
>
>
>
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