[MPWG] Fwd: AHPA ERB Foundation Establishes American Ginseng Advisory Panel

[De Angelis, Patricia]

A new advance for the conservation of American ginseng!

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
US Fish & Wildlife Service
PCA-Medicinal Plant Working Group

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AHPA-ERB Foundation Press Release
Sept. 18, 2014

*AHPA ERB Foundation Establishes American Ginseng Advisory Panel*

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Foundation for Education
and Research on Botanicals (the AHPA-ERB Foundation) announced today the
formation of the American Ginseng Advisory Panel, representing the
interests of researchers, educators, and harvesters. The Advisory Panel was
established to provide expertise on the development and maintenance of
regional and national collections of plant material that will preserve the
genetic diversity of wild American Ginseng (*Panax quinquefolius*).

A germplasm collection, defined as the long-term storage of hereditary
plant material (i.e. seed) does not currently exist for American ginseng in
the United States. As demand for ginseng continues, conservation through
propagation becomes an important consideration and a valuable economic
opportunity for cultivators of "woodsgrown" and "wild-simulated" American
ginseng. Germplasm collections ensure the genetic variation of a plant
species and also provide genetic resources for future research and
*in-situ* conservation
opportunities.

Development of a national American ginseng germplasm collection is now in a
preliminary planning stage under the direction of Dr. Joe-Ann McCoy at the
North Carolina Arboretum. The national program will entail the
identification, collection, and propagation of a significant number of
genetically diverse populations of *Panax quinquefolius* sustainably
collected from multiple locations within its native range in the United
States. Dr. McCoy is also initiating a regional American ginseng germplasm
collection for western North Carolina.

"Starting with a regional germplasm collection will provide a template for
the broader project that encompasses the wide geographic range of this
plant," said Dr. McCoy. "The AHPA ERB Foundation's foresight and dedication
to the long-term conservation of this precious species will help preserve
the native populations for future generations."

American ginseng is one of the most valuable North American wild-crafted
non-timber plants and is traded principally in international markets.
Primarily found in the Appalachian region in the United States, native
populations are subject to numerous pressures, including harvesting (if
sustainable practices are not utilized), loss of habitat due to land
development and mining, and deer browsing.

The Advisory Panel will also provide guidance on obtaining financial
support and publication of research and other data generated during
establishment of the collections. The Advisory Panel is composed of the
following members:

   - Eric Burkhart, Ph.D., Program Director, Plant Science, Pennsylvania
   State University
   - Lyle Craker, Ph.D., Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst
   - Jennifer Cruse-Sanders, Ph.D., VP for Science and Conservation,
   Atlanta Botanical Garden
   - Tony Hayes, President, Ridge Runner Trading Company
   - Gary Kauffman, Botanist/Ecologist, U.S Forest Service
   - Susan Leopold, Ph.D., Executive Director, United Plant Savers
   - Allen Lockard, President, American Botanicals
   - Joe-Ann McCoy, Ph.D., Director, North Carolina Arboretum Germplasm
   Repository
   - James McGraw, Ph.D., Professor, West Virginia University
   - Michael McGuffin, President, American Herbal Products Association


In addition, Patricia Ford (Botanist, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS))
will serve as a liaison to the Advisory Panel representing the USFWS.
American ginseng is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),
an international agreement between countries to ensure that international
trade in certain plants and animals does not threaten their survival in the
wild. The USFWS regulates the export of American ginseng through the
issuance of CITES permits to ensure that roots are legally and sustainably
harvested.

"The harvest pressure on wild American ginseng and the disappearance of
more and more of its natural habitat creates a risk of the loss of the
genetic diversity critical for the long-term health of the species," said
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. "Creating a seed bank for
ginseng is vital to ensure the continued sustainability of this species,
which plays an important role in the economy and culture of communities
throughout the United States."

The AHPA-ERB Foundation  <http://www.ahpafoundation.org/>is a 501(c)(3)
educational foundation established by the American Herbal Products
Association for the purpose of promoting education and research on
medicinal, therapeutic, and health-promoting herbs. The Foundation's
current and previous efforts have included providing funding for a
multi-year study of the impact of wild collection on populations of osha
(Ligusticum porter), development of a guidance document on compliance with
CITES for the natural products industry, and revision of AHPA's *Botanical
Safety Handbook, Second Edition*. For further information please contact
the Foundation at ahpafoundation at ahpa.org.

The central mission of *The North Carolina Arboretum*, an affiliate
institution of the 17-campus University of North Carolina system, is to
cultivate connections between people and plants. Established in 1986 by the
General Assembly as an affiliate of the University of North Carolina, the
Arboretum was founded nearly a century after Frederick Law Olmsted, the
'Father of American Landscape Architecture,' first envisioned such an
institution near Asheville as part of his legacy to the Biltmore Estate.
The North Carolina Arboretum is adjacent to the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway,
and is located in one of the most beautiful natural settings in America.
See www.ncarboretum.org for more information.
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