<p><font size=2 face="Verdana">Liz asks good questions! In addition
to hearing whether anyone is working on this species (which I'm assuming
is <i>Larrea tridentata</i>), discussion of sustainability could also include
the following considerations:</font>
<ul>
<li><font size=2 face="Verdana">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 <u>grown</u>
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.</font>
<li><font size=2 face="Verdana">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?</font>
<li><font size=2 face="Verdana">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?</font>
<li><font size=2 face="Verdana">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?</font>
<li><font size=2 face="Verdana">What else?</font></ul><font size=2 face="Verdana">Thanks,</font>
<p><font size=2 face="Verdana">Patricia</font>
<p>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.<br>
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority<br>
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group<br>
US Fish & Wildlife Service<br>
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110<br>
Arlington, VA 22203<br>
703-358-1708 x1753<br>
FAX: 703-358-2276<br>
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural resources.<br>
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal><br>
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<td width=40%><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>Elizabeth Kirchner <ekirchner@aibs.org></b>
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<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Sent by: mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">06/18/2009 10:59 AM</font>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">To</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org</font>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">cc</font></div>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Subject</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">[MPWG] Gila tribe uses native plants
in new line of spa products</font></table>
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<br><tt><font size=2>Hi,<br>
Harvesting 100 pounds of "creosote brush" each month sounds sustainable.
<br>
Does anybody know, or is there a graduate student somewhere studying, <br>
creosote ecology and how much harvest is too much harvest?<br>
Thanks and regards,<br>
Liz<br>
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