[MPWG] MPWG 125/7 - poaching show

Mon Jan 13 12:19:11 CST 2014

FYI ... American Herbal Products Association President Michael McGuffin speaks out about the show and defends the legal ginseng industry in today's issue of NutraIngredients.

"And the show muddies the picture concerning ginseng as an ingredient, said Michael McGuffin, executive director of the American Herbal Products Association.  It should not be forgotten that there is a thriving-and legal-trade in the plant.

"It is unfortunate that this show sensationalizes and glorifies the unlawful activities of a few ginseng harvesters and ignores the legal, well-regulated, $27 million annual trade in wild American ginseng. This can be an important economic factor in rural areas of Appalachian states.

"A more accurate portrayal of the ginseng industry would highlight the many positives associated with the substantial legal ginseng harvest -- 22.7 tons of wild and wild-simulated ginseng was legally exported in 2012 according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

"In addition to providing much needed economic resources, legal wild American ginseng collectors act as stewards of the plant and its habitat -- contributing to the sustainability of wild American ginseng and preserving a long-standing American tradition," McGuffin said.

The article is online at: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Regulation/Groups-devoted-to-legal-ginseng-trade-blast-History-Channel-show-glorifying-poaching/?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2BDaily&c=LY%2FHs4sx3Yho6tqO%2FIBkqR1pMv%2Fth5dc 

-----Original Message-----
From: MPWG [mailto:mpwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of Joe-Ann McCoy
Sent: Friday, January 10, 2014 1:54 PM
To: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Cc: Joe-Ann McCoy
Subject: Re: [MPWG] MPWG 125/7 - poaching show

FYI.....
Attached is a link to the show, 'Appalachian Outlaws' which debuted on the history channel last night glorifying illegal ginseng harvest and theft.  There has been a vociferous, indignant response today as it will threaten the species even more than it currently is.
Another disturbing thing (among many others!!) to notice in the film is the blatent misidentification of Actaea racemosa (black cohosh) as Actaea pachypoda (Doll's Eye) which has toxic properties!
There has already been concern expressed by members about the potential danger this could have on future wildharvesting as it could show up as a toxic adulterant in products.  I have attached a photo of the misidentified plant from the film clip.  In addition they illustrate illegal ginseng wildharvesting methods which include harvesting young plants and individuals with green immature seeds (photo attached), which once again threatens future populations!
Joe-Ann

Joe-Ann McCoy, PhD
Director, NC Arboretum Germplasm Repository
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way
Asheville, NC 28806-9315
828-665-5178 ext. 268
www.ncarboretum.org

On Fri, Jan 10, 2014 at 12:06 PM, Michael Schenk <schenkmj at earthlink.net> wrote:
> This is mind-boggling.
>
> If someone were to set up a petition site, I'd sign it.
>
> Mike Schenk
>
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: mpwg-request at lists.plantconservation.org
>>Sent: Jan 10, 2014 10:47 AM
>>To: mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org
>>Subject: MPWG Digest, Vol 125, Issue 7
>>
>
>>
>>Today's Topics:
>>
>>   1. ginseng poaching program
>>   2. Re: ginseng poaching program
>>   3. Re: ginseng poaching program
>>
>>
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>Message: 1
>>Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2014 10:19:41 -0500 (EST)
>>From:
>>To: MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org
>>Subject: [MPWG] ginseng poaching program
>>Message-ID: <a0f0f.40554b6c.4001698d at aol.com>
>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>>MPWG:
>>
>>A new program had its debut on History Channel  yesterday 01/09/14  
>>called "Appalachian Outlaws.
>>
>>The program appears to be more about the being a ginseng poacher than 
>>almost anything else and I am uncertain how it could impact ginseng 
>>growers...beyond making theft a thrill game.
>>
>>One concern I have as a long time grower of black Cohosh in a forest
>>setting is that one of the poachers already has identified "dolls eye",   Actaea
>>pachypoda, as black Cohosh, a very incorrect ID.  They made a  point 
>>of showing the fruit and the foliage.
>>
>>As a grower of the medicinal black Cohosh plant I think that in 2014  
>>black Cohosh root buyers might have to be more vigilant in vetting 
>>their purchases to make sure they aren't getting poison.
>>
>>I would appreciate other peoples' thoughts or comments on the program
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>
>>Russ
>>
>
>>Message: 2
>>Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2014 15:44:39 +0000
>>From:
>>To:
>>       "MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org" 
>><MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org>
>>Subject: Re: [MPWG] ginseng poaching program
>>Message-ID:
>>       
>><df9eba5c9c0a4ae5b48c7e49dc3291ea at CO2PR04MB714.namprd04.prod.outlook.c
>>om>
>>
>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>>Hi Russ and others
>>I watched the show and it was wrong in so many ways, I hardly know where to begin. The misidentification of baneberry as black cohosh was a minor one, compared to the digging of ginseng with clusters of green berries, digging two prong plants and the unscrupulous dealers. The so called "disabled" poacher claiming to be supporting his family with ginseng should go to jail for fraud if he is indeed "disabled" and collecting benefits. Disabled people cannot hunt ginseng.
>>The only positive thing is that perhaps it will scare some potential poachers from breaking the law.
>>Bob
>>
>
>>
>>Message: 3
>>Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2014 10:47:09 -0500
>>From: Susan
>>To:
>>Cc: MPWG at lists.plantconservation.org
>>Subject: Re: [MPWG] ginseng poaching program
>>Message-ID:
>>       <8FD03BA0-B167-413E-8B47-F1DC3E6564E9 at unitedplantsavers.org>
>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>>Thank you Russ for pointing out the information of wrong identification, which sets the stage for the show and possibly more of its kind in the works. I personally think it is horrific to have a ginseng show that glorifies poaching and all the illegal activity that took place in this show to continue with no consequences.  If is was a show about poaching a protected animal I wonder how the public would react?
>>
>>I think this quote from the main ginseng dealers sums up how plants are perceived.. see quote and link below.
>>
>>UpS has released a formal press release warning the History Channel about the dangers of promoting poaching of a threatened species...
>>
>> "its a protected species, but I don't know why. Its a plant'
>>http://www.register-herald.com/local/x1956140531/New-reality-show-focu
>>ses-on-state-ginseng-business 
>>http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2013/12/25/new-reality-show-focuses-on-
>>west-virginia-ginseng-business/
>>
>
>
>
>
>
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