[MPWG] Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Development of an International Standard

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

Dear Listserve Members:

The following news release provides information on new standards under
development for sustainable wild collection of medicinals.  I urge you to
read it over and submit any comments as follows:

Comments on the current draft of the International Standard for Sustainable
Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP) are welcome...A
second draft and other documents related to the project are available on
the project download website (http://www.floraweb.de/map-pro).
The period for commenting on the 2nd draft will end on May 31st, 2005.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Development
of an International Standard


Medicinal and aromatic plants are an important resource for mankind.
Unsustainable wild collection threatens the survival of many of these
species. An International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants is being developed by the German Federal
Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), IUCN and WWF/TRAFFIC.

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) are offered in a wide variety of
products on the market. An estimated 40,000 – 50,000 plant species are used
in traditional and modern medicine throughout the world. The great majority
of MAP species is provided by collection from the wild. This trend is
likely to continue over the long term due to numerous factors, including
high costs of domestication and cultivation. Moreover, cultivation is not
necessarily the most beneficial production system for some MAP species.
Wild collection secures valuable income for rural households, especially in
developing countries, may provide incentives for conservation and
sustainable use of important habitats, and can strengthen local economies.
Approaches to sustainable wild MAP collection that engage local, regional,
and international collection enterprises and markets are urgently needed to
provide specific guidance for industry, collectors and other stakeholders
on sustainable sourcing practices.

The German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) has provided
start-up funding for the development of an International Standard for
Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP).
The project is implemented by the Medicinal Plant Specialist Group (MPSG)
through IUCN-Canada, and by WWF/TRAFFIC Germany. This standard will bridge
the gap between already existing but mostly very abstract guidelines, and
management plans developed for specific local conditions. Stakeholders
involved will receive an easy to handle list of criteria, indicators and
verifiers that will enable them to proof the sustainability of wild
collected plant material. ISSC-MAP covers social and economic factors, but
clearly focuses on ecological aspects addressing two important aspects that
are often left aside: the need for resource assessments and the question of
annual sustained yields.
The development of the ISSC-MAP builds on existing principles, guidelines,
and standards for sustainable forest practices, organic production and good
agricultural practices, fair trade, and product quality.

An international advisory group has been established bringing together the
medicinal plant / herbal products industry, small-scale collection
enterprises, non-government organizations, conservation and certification
organizations. The advisory group met on the Isle of Vilm, Germany, in
December 2004 to revise a first draft of the standard. A second draft and
other documents related to the project are available on the project
download website (http://www.floraweb.de/map-pro). The standard will be
tested in several field projects beginning in July 2005.

The period for commenting on the 2nd draft will end on May 31st, 2005.
Further drafts will follow and be available at the project website.
Comments on the current draft of the International Standard for Sustainable
Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP) are welcome at
any time. Please check the current status of the project at our website or
address us by email: MAP-Standards-Criteria at wwf.de


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 750
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>