[MPWG] ginseng in the news

[Susan Leopold]

Thanks Gena...

My suggestion is that since the Park Service and the US forest Service have the largest protected areas of ginseng populations that they consider managing these populations as a source for those looking for local seeds. This has been a suggestion of the Fish and Wildlife services.... for years and the idea behind the petition is to show states and FWS that the public cares and supports ginseng conservation efforts...

Ginseng is already being farmed in Wisconsin, Canada and in China and its those seeds that we do not want contaminating the Appalachian ginseng that is so priced for its wild character and medicinal value.... Please see the UpS website www.unitedplantsavers.org for links to research on why we need local seeds sources and to protect wild regional populations, specifically the work of Dr. Marla McIntosh out of the University of Maryland and her co-researchers...

Ensuring Sustainability
 
FWS reports that Forest Service and National Park Service officials have increased enforcement efforts to curtail illegal harvesting. Officials have increased marking of wild ginseng roots with permanent markers like colored dyes to detect illegally harvested roots. 
 
FWS also identifies a number of future actions "to continue to minimize the impact of harvest of ginseng for international trade." These actions include:
supporting efforts in Vermont to delay the start of the harvest season until Sept. 1 for the 2014 season
exploring strategies to reduce illegal harvesting
investigating seed collection and the establishment of regional seed banks
exploring the implementation of a standard to convert wet root weight to dry root weight
investigating how wild-simulated roots can be reported separately from wild roots in annual reports so that the impact of harvests on wild populations and the status of the species can better be assessed
 
Susan Leopold, PhD
Executive Director, UpS
703-667-0208
susan at unitedplantsavers.org





On Sep 6, 2013, at 2:32 PM, Gena Fleming wrote:

> Dear All:
> 
> I have appreciated all the insight and information from the recent responses to the Ginseng media.
> 
> Down here in Texas, I have no experience with ginseng cultivation or harvest issues.  I hope the public will recognize that the news cast is, by definition, the opinion of a few people and does not constitute comprehensive coverage.
> 
> I am much more concerned about the petition being circulated by United Plant Savers, calling on the federal government to take control of wild ginseng.  From the petition:
> 
> " It has become very apparent that there are very limited sources of local seeds and we ask that the USDA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service work together to Save American Ginseng by investing in programs that establish seed banks for local supply of regional seed source."
> 
> The USDA, headed by Monsanto, factory farm and biotech proponent Tom Vilsack (specifically included among the addressees),  is the last organization I want involved with controlling genetic resources of medicinal plants.  Traditional herbal knowledge is regularly being mined by the biotech industry in order to genetically engineer medicinal plants with increased concentration of active ingredients (for conversion into patented drugs) and/or other genetic manipulations to render their cultivation more attractive to the agro-industrial complex.
> 
> I feel people are signing on to this petition simply because they want to voice support for ginseng and are not giving much thought to the merit of the proposed solution.  I am at a loss to understand why United Plant Savers wants to turn genetic control of this wild plant over to the federal government.  I feel the petition, more so than the broadcast, stands to create the appearance of consensus and widespread support for federal control.   
> 
> I hope Susan will address this and the other concerns expressed in this thread.
> 
> I thank Robin for voicing her opinions about individual vs. government control as well.   Do we need to start another petition?
> 
> Gena
> 
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>> Disclaimer
>> Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc. reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. All medical and other healthcare information that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant Conservation Alliance.                                                    
> 
> Robin Alton Suggs
> MoonBranch Botanicals
> 5294 Yellow Creek Road
> Robbinsville, North Carolina 28771 
> USA
> 
> Telephone: 828.479.2788
> Email: moonbranch at earthlink.net
> Websites:
> www.moonbranch.com  &  www.localharvest.org/store/M16074
> 
> Member:
> Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project; Farm Partner
> Green Products Alliance 
> North Carolina Consortium on Natural Medicines 
> North Carolina Goodness Grows/NCDA&CS 
> United Plant Savers
> 
> There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root. - Henry David Thoreau
> 
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> _______________________________________________
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> MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org
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> 
> To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to MPWG-request at lists.plantconservation.org with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
> 
> Disclaimer
> Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc. reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. All medical and other healthcare information that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant Conservation Alliance.                                                    
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> PCA's Medicinal Plant Working Group mailing list
> MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org
> http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/mpwg_lists.plantconservation.org
> 
> To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to MPWG-request at lists.plantconservation.org with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
> 
> Disclaimer
> Any advice given on this list regarding diagnosis or treatments etc. reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the message. The information contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. All medical and other healthcare information that is discussed on this list should be carefully reviewed by the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional. Posts do not reflect any official opinions or positions of the Plant Conservation Alliance.                                                    

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