[MPWG] Transitioning from wild collection to forest cultivation of indigenous medicinal forest plants in eastern North America is constrained by lack of profitability
Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov
Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov
Tue Jun 16 11:05:46 CDT 2009
The recent publication by Burkhart and Jocobsen on the economics of
cultivating medicinal plants (see abstract 1) makes important points on
the practicality of cultivation versus wild harvesting.
The merits of wild harvesting versus cultivation have been discussed in
various venues, both domestically and globally - see abstracts 2 and 3.
What are your thoughts on where we stand in North America on cultivating
versus wild-harvesting native medicinal plants?
-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
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural
resources.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>
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abstract 1
Transitioning from wild collection to forest cultivation of indigenous
medicinal forest plants in eastern North America is constrained by lack of
profitability
By Eric P. Burkhart & Michael G. Jacobson
Abstract The forest flora of eastern North America includes many
herbaceous plant species traded in domestic and international medicinal
markets. Conservation concerns surrounding wild-collection exist and
transitioning to cultivation in agroforestry systems has potential
economic and ecological benefits. Costs and revenues associated with
adopting forest cultivation were modeled for eight North American
medicinal forest plants. Sensitivity analysis examined profit potential in
relation to (1) discount rates; (2) propagation methods; (3) prices; (4)
growing period; (5) production costs; and (6) yields. Results indicate
that intensive husbandry of six of eight species would be unprofitable at
recent (1990?2005) price levels. Exceptions are American ginseng (Panax
quinquefolius L.), and under certain circumstances (e.g., maximum historic
prices, low production costs) goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.). Direct
marketing to consumers and retailers might improve grower profits, but is
undermined by the availability of cheaper, wild-collected product. We
suggest that the North American medicinal plant industry could play a key
role in facilitating any transition from wild to cultivated product,
perhaps through development of a certification and labeling program that
brands ??forest cultivated?? products. This could generate price premiums,
to be passed along to growers, but must be accompanied by aggressive
consumer education. A ??forest cultivated?? certification and labeling
program has potential to benefit industry and consumers if assurances
regarding product identity and quality are a central feature. Plant
species that are not viable candidates for commercial cultivation due to
limited consumer demand (i.e., species with ??shallow,?? erratic markets)
are best addressed through proactive government and industry initiatives
involving targeted harvester education programs.
Full story: Agroforest Syst (2009) 76:437?453
E. P. Burkhart (&)
Shaver?s Creek Environmental Center, The Pennsylvania
State University, Petersburg, PA 16669, USA
e-mail: epb6 at psu.edu
M. G. Jacobson
School of Forest Resources, The Pennsylvania State
University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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abstract 2
Impact of Cultivation and Gathering of Medicinal Plants on Biodiversity:
Global Trends and Issues
By Uwe Schippmann, Danna J. Leaman and A. B. Cunningham
Published in
FAO. 2002. Biodiversity and the Ecosystem Approach in Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries. Satellite event on the occasion of the Ninth
Regular Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture. Rome, 12-13 October 2002. Inter-Departmental Working Group on
Biological Diversity for Food and Agriculture. Rome
1. Introduction
Since time immemorial, people have gathered plant and animal resources for
their needs. Examples include edible nuts, mushrooms, fruits, herbs,
spices, gums, game, fodder, fibres used for construction of shelter and
housing, clothing or utensils, and plant or animal products for medicinal,
cosmetic or cultural uses. Even today, hundreds of millions of people,
mostly in developing countries, derive a significant part of their
subsistence needs and income from gathered plant and animal products
(Iqbal 1993; Walter 2001). Gathering of high value products such as
mushrooms (morels, matsutake, truffles), medicinal plants (ginseng, black
cohosh, goldenseal) also continues in developed countries for cultural and
economic reasons (Joneset al.2002).
Among these uses, medicinal plants play a central role, not only as
traditional medicines used in many cultures, but also als trade
commodities which meet the demand of often distant markets. For the
purpose of this paper the term "medicinal and aromatic plant" (MAP) is
defined to cover the whole range of plants used not only medicinallysensu
strictubut also in the neighbouring and often overlapping fields of
condiments, food and cosmetics.
Demand for a wide variety of wild species is increasing with growth in
human needs, numbers and commercial trade. With the increased realization
that some wild species are being over-exploited, a number of agencies are
recommending that wild species be brought into cultivation systems (BAH
2002; Lambertet al.1997; WHO, IUCN and WWF 1993). Cultivation can also
have conservation impacts, however, and these need to be better
understood. Medicinal plant production through cultivation, for example,
can reduce the extent to which wild populations are harvested, but it also
may lead to environmental degradation and loss of genetic diversity as
well as loss of incentives to conserve wild populations (Anon. 2002b).
The relationship betweenin-situandex-situconservation of species is an
interesting topic with implications for local communities, public and
private land owners and managers, entire industries and, of course, wild
species. Identifying the conservation benefits and costs of the different
production systems for MAP should help guide policies as to whether
species conservation should take place in nature or the nursery, or both
(Bodekeret al.1997).
In this paper, we review global trends in the close relationship between
cultivation and wild harvest of MAP species, then make recommendations on
steps that should be taken to achieve a balance between consumption,
conservation and cultivation.
Full story: http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/aa010e/AA010e00.HTM
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abstract 3
Edible Products
By The Center for Forest Products Marketing and Management, Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University, and The Southern Research
Station, USDA Forest Service (last modified 2009)
Edible products include mushrooms, seeds, nuts, fruits & berries,
wildlife, greens and roots. (Not all products are covered here) Wholesale
or commercial wild collection of most of these products would not provide
enough volume to make market sale possible and profitable and would
deplete and likely endanger the resource for both local human use and for
wildlife. Many species are now cultivated and more could be cultivated and
marketed.
Full story: http://www.sfp.forprod.vt.edu/prodarea/edible.htm
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