[MPWG] poaching, etc.

[Jim McGraw]

I am glad to see the issue of poaching in parks continues to 
stimulate interest in ginseng population biology.  As part of our 
extensive monitoring efforts, we are examining park populations.  I 
would caution everyone who goes looking for ginseng in the fall that 
if it is missing from a place where it was formerly present, one 
should not necessarily jump to the conclusion that it has been 
poached by human harvesters.  As my ex-graduate student, Mary Ann 
Furedi, showed in her careful observations, overabundant deer are 
quite likely to be the cause in many cases.  Some of her populations 
were 100% browsed in certain years in certain populations, by August. 
In the Shenandoah and Blue Ridge, that source of ginseng 
disappearance would not surprise me.  The careful work of park 
personnel in the Smokies with labeled roots illustrates that illegal 
harvest, too, can be a source of the disappearance, as some of those 
roots have shown up at dealers.

As a slight correction to Bob Beyfuss' comments about our research, 
what we have shown with modeling simulations is that a ginseng 
steward who DOES NOT HARVEST and PLANTS ALL SEEDS OF EXISTING 
REPRODUCTIVE ADULTS 1 INCH DEEP can ultimately grow a population by 
up to 30% per year (1.3-fold increase per year).  Over time, such a 
population steward could create quite a large population of native 
genotypes.  This would be a good thing; perhaps this discussion can 
stimulate some of you to engage in this truly beneficial act of 
stewardship!  As a conservation biologist, I do have concerns about 
planting cultivated stock in wild lands, and unfortunately, massive 
seed planting efforts, at present, could only be done with cultivated 
stock since so few local seed sources have been developed.  I have no 
problem with landowners engaging in wild-simulated ginseng growing, 
but this activity could benefit greatly by development of local seed 
sources so the genetic integrity of nearby wild populations is 
maintained.  It seems to me this offers a business opportunity for 
rural landowners in two respects: (1) becoming seed sellers with 
local 'varietal' ginseng seeds, and (2) developing 'branding' 
opportunities for local genotypes that may develop a reputation for 
particular potency in the Asian market.  Products from Vermont maple 
syrup to Bordeaux wine carry a regional cachet reflected in their 
market price.

Best wishes, Jim McGraw


-- 
*************************************************************************************************************************************
"Beyond all plans and programs, true conservation is ultimately 
something of the mind-an ideal of those who cherish their past and 
believe in their future.  Our civilization will be measured by its 
fidelity to this ideal as surely as by its art and poetry and system 
of justice."

-Udall, 1963

James B. McGraw,  Eberly Professor of Biology
Dept. of Biology, P. O. Box 6057
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV  26506-6057
Phone: 304-293-5201 x 31532

Office: Room 5204, Life Sciences Building
Lab:  Room 5209/5211
Dept. web page: http://www.as.wvu.edu/biology
JBM's web page: http://www.as.wvu.edu/biology/faculty/mcgraw.html
JBM's extensive personal web page: 
http://www.as.wvu.edu/biology/faculty/JBMPersonalSite/index.html