[MPWG] Gila tribe uses native plants in new line of spa products

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

Liz asks good questions!  In addition to hearing whether anyone is working 
on this species (which I'm assuming is Larrea tridentata), discussion of 
sustainability could also include the following considerations:
If this plant were being wild-harvested, it would be good to know things 
like - method of sexual reproduction (age of, frequency, etc.), density of 
wild-harvested stands, part of plant harvested, whether that is 
"destructive", frequency of harvest, etc.  But, the article states 
that..."the herbs used in the products are grown in the community."  In 
that case, depending on how the original growing stock was obtained (i.e., 
seeds or mature plants) and how often they need to go back to wild 
specimens to maintain their growing stock, this would minimize harvest 
pressure on the wild populations.
Also, "only Stoneman and four other community members have been authorized 
by the cultural council to pick the parts of the plant that goes into the 
spa products." In general, a "limited entry" harvesting scenario such as 
this would also increase the potential sustainability of the harvest.  In 
the bigger picture, several factors would play into this, such as training 
received, good collection protocols and follow-up with harvesters to 
ensure that collection protocols were followed, etc. What else?
Another question for products that include plant-derived raw materials is 
whether they have collected a voucher specimen of the plant that they are 
harvesting. I think there are several other practices that businesses with 
plant-based product lines follow to establish a "baseline" for product 
quality control , right?
Another issue (which is out of the Gila's control), is what effect might 
this "new found" use have on wild plant harvest in other parts of the 
species' range, if other commercial entities decide to get in on this 
action?
What else?
Thanks,
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>




Elizabeth Kirchner <ekirchner at aibs.org> 
Sent by: mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org
06/18/2009 10:59 AM

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Subject
[MPWG] Gila tribe uses native plants in new line of spa products






Hi,
Harvesting 100 pounds of "creosote brush" each month sounds sustainable. 
Does anybody know, or is there a graduate student somewhere studying, 
creosote ecology and how much harvest is too much harvest?
Thanks and regards,
Liz
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