[MPWG] Question: Production Plantations in Poland - Hamamelis virginiana [trade data & issue of wild American harvest]

Fri Jul 17 12:27:45 CDT 2009

Some food for thought during my lunch break...on two points: trade data 
and the issue of wild American harvest

Trade data!?!? 
I think you are asking for way too much here!  I'm not kidding - trade 
data on most plants is HARD TO COME BY!  And, then try to get data on 
medicinals and you are asking for the world!  I have to analyze trade data 
a lot - only I'm usually trying to get info on what's leaving the U.S.  I 
have some ideas and hope that some of our seasoned MPWG members might also 
chime in.

For CITES-listed medicinals

According to CITES World Newsletter (1), about 35,000 plant species are 
used for medicinal purposes worldwide and, as of 2001, more than 200 
medicinal plants were CITES-listed.  A list of plant species that are 
traded for medicinal purposes was compiled in 2002 (2). 

CITES maintains its trade data online, at: .  You can find out which 
countries are the importers and exporters, and how much they're trading. 

To do a CITES-trade search 
Go to: <www.unep-wcmc.org/citestrade/trade.cfm>
- You fill out the requested info - your name, etc. - because they like to 
see how the database is being used. 
- You can search for one species at a time or by genus or family. 
- It will take you step by step thru the process.
-The trade data can be confusing but there there is an online guide on how 
to read it. 

For more U.S.-specific info, as of 1999, there were at least 175 species 
of North American native plants for nonprescription medicinals marketed in 
domestically, with more than 140 North American native herbs in herbal 
products and phytomedicines internationally (3).  Also, our friends at 
HerbalGram publish top sales info each year - although a quick search and 
I can't see exactly which is the most recent issue on the topic.

References:

(1) CITES World  Newsletter - Significant trade in medicinal plants
http://www.cites.org/eng/news/world/10.pdf

        (2) List Of Species Traded For Medicinal Purposes
http://www.cites.org/eng/com/PC/12/E-PC12-12-01-02.pdf

(3) Medicine from U.S. Wildlands: An Assessment of Native Plant Species 
Harvested in the United States for Medicinal Use and Trade and Evaluation 
of the Conservation and Management Implications 
http://www.nps.gov/plants/MEDICINAL/pubs/traffic.htm

Customs 

        Tracks imports only.  If you have a customs code, you can search 
the Customs database - but I can't seem to find that search engine right 
now. 

USDA 

Requires phytosanitary certificates for just about all plant material 
entering the country.  I heard they were going to automate their system, 
but not sure if that happened yet.

Issue of Wild American Harvest
You wonder if wild-harvest of American species is an issue, when needs are 
being meet by imports - well....How much of our needs are really being met 
by these imports?  And how much of our needs are not being met, simply 
because the market has not been developed? 

The U.S. is missing out on opportunities when it comes to our native 
medicinal plants.  For instance, some wild-harvested plants are actually 
leaving the U.S. as raw materials because there is no market for them 
here.  And then, we buy some of those materials right back from the guys 
who bought them and turned into finished products.  Many of you know what 
the mark-up is from raw materials to finished products - it's pretty 
substantial - esp. when you are talking about plant materials, which are 
generally under-valued resources as raw materials.

Now, this is not to say that I'm not concerned about the impact of 
wild-harvesting on medicinal plants.  Because I am.  So I should say that 
my discussion here is predicated on the "wise use of resources" (a whole 
'nother conversation).  More and more we have come to understand that wise 
use of resources comes from those who have a vested interest in them. 
Medicinal plant collection is part of our culture, our heritage - 
medicinal plants are important to livelihoods and day-to-day health needs 
of many Americans.  I am convinced that the further development of U.S. 
cottage industries, based on wise use of resources, would be an excellent 
avenue for conserving our native medicinal plants and their habitats - 
that and the cessation of habitat destruction (but that's a whole 'nother 
conversation, too). 

What if the medicinal plant market were developed here in the U.S. so that 
we didn't export the raw materials, but actually created the value-added 
products - and that money went back to the stewards of the resources? What 
if we were able to satisfy more of our domestic needs for plants with 
sustainably-sourced (cultivated or wild-crafted) materials from our own 
backyards (or, backwoods)?   Imagine.

-Patricia

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276

Promoting sustainable use and conservation of our native medicinal plants.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>

Goods From The Woods <penny at pinenut.com> 
Sent by: mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
07/17/2009 11:41 AM

To
mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
cc

Subject
[MPWG] Question: Production Plantations in Poland - Hamamelis   virginiana

Hamamelis virginiana is an indigenous plant to the U.S. and we are USDA 
certified organic wild crop producers of the species. 
I recently did a survey of on line botanical sellers offering certified 
witch hazel and found it was all coming out of Poland.
When I inquired with a major US broker, I was told they had huge 
plantations of it in Poland.
I emailed several Polish exporters, the  agricultural agencies and the 
Consulate to no avail.
Could anyone assist in locating these "huge organic certified Polish 
plantations?"

As an aside, many of common native American species are on the U.S. 
certified organic market as Polish or Hungarian imports. While there 
does seem to be a good deal of organic agriculture producing medicinal 
plants in Poland, I am surprised by the sheer number of native 
medicinal species reported as organically cultivated  in Poland and 
imported to the U.S. as organic material. The certified organic market 
is THE market for native botanicals.

Thus, ny second question:  Is there any research on U.S. imports of 
medicinal plants. I have used several trade data bases both public and 
private search services without much luck.  Seeing that the U.S. market 
for medicinal plants is being met with so many imported botanicals, it 
gives me pause to think about our need to consider American medicinal 
species harvest safeguards.  What if it not an issue, as the market 
might be met by imports, rather than wild American harvest?

Thank you,
Penny Frazier
A Wild Crops Farm

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