FWD 2 2013 Efforts to Improve Sustainable State Management of Wild American Ginseng Harvest

HerbalEGram: Volume 10, Number 10, October 2013

2013 Efforts to Improve Sustainable Management of
Wild American Ginseng Harvest

By Haley Chitty, director of communications, American Herbal Products Association

Editor’s Note: This article has been revised and expanded from the original article published in the September 2013 edition of the AHPA Report, the monthly newsletter of the American Herbal Products Association.1 The article is reprinted with permission from AHPA.


Four states and five national forests are taking steps this year to improve their management of the harvest of wild American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in efforts to ensure sustainability of wild populations. The annual value of wild American ginseng at the initial point of collection is roughly $27 million, according to research funded by the American Herbal Products Association’s (AHPA) Education and Research on Botanicals Foundation.2


American Ginseng and CITES

Wild American ginseng populations face several threats, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). These threats include loss of habitat due to urban sprawl, energy development activities and logging (industry observers also count mining operations as significant contributors to habitat loss for ginseng and numerous other woodland plants), competition due to invasive non-native plant species, overpopulation of deer, and illegal and irresponsible harvesting.

American ginseng has been listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) since 1975.3 Appendix II includes species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction now, but may become threatened if trade is not closely controlled. International trade of Appendix II-listed species is authorized only if the relevant CITES authorities in the country of export determine that export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species and that the specimens to be exported were legally obtained. CITES requirements are especially relevant for wild American ginseng because the vast majority of each year’s harvest is exported.

The FWS Division of Scientific Authority (DSA) is responsible for making the required “non-detriment” determination. In recent years, the Division has determined that the export of wild and wild-simulated ginseng harvested in 19 states is not detrimental to the survival of the species, as long as harvested plants are at least five years old.3 Plants that are five years of age are considered to be reproductive and have produced seeds for regeneration. FWS annually reviews these states’ laws and regulations for the harvest and sale of ginseng and management programs that monitor and protect wild ginseng from overharvest, as well as current research and other relevant information concerning the status and trade of ginseng.

In its 2012 findings, FWS indicated its support for Georgia, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia to improve their regulation and management of ginseng and its importance to the non-detriment finding for the 2013 harvest.4 More specifi­cally, FWS encouraged these states to amend their harvest seasons to begin on September 1, as is required in the other states from which harvest and export is allowed.


State Regulatory Changes for 2013

Three of these four states have now made regulatory changes in time to affect the 2013 harvest:

·         Georgia delayed the start of the ginseng harvest season from August 15 to September 1.5

·         Pennsylvania postponed the start of the harvest season from August 1 to September 1.6

·         Virginia changed the opening of the harvest season from August 15 to September 1. The state also established rules similar to those already in place in other states, so that harvest is limited to ginseng that is at least five years old with at least four stem scars on its rhizome or three leaf prongs.7

Although Vermont did not make any changes for the 2013 harvest, the state is working to enact regulatory amendments that could be implemented as soon as the 2014 season. These changes are proposed to include a new permit fee structure for ginseng collectors, revise the harvest period to begin on September 1 and end on October 30 (currently it is from August 20 to October 10), increase the minimum plant age from five years to 10 years, and extend the period for certification of green root from October 20 to December 31.8

In addition, Maryland announced earlier this year that it is prohibiting all wild ginseng harvest in 2013 on state lands managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.9,10


Harvest Restrictions in National Forests for 2013

Historically, the US Department of Agriculture National Forests allowed collection of various woodland plants (e.g., non-timber forest products), including wild American ginseng, on a permit basis.11 Several of the National Forests in gin­seng’s range have announced new restrictions to limit the amount of wild ginseng that will be permitted for harvest in the 2013 season:

·         Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee has limited the 2013 ginseng collecting season to September 16 to September 30. The Forest Service will issue a total of 40 permits, each with a maximum limit of 25 roots. A lottery will be held to determine the 40 permittees. Twenty permits will be issued for the northern half of the forest (Watauga and Unaka ranger districts) and 20 permits will be issued for the southern half of the forest (Tellico and Ocoee ranger districts). Permits will cost $20 and are limited to one per person per year. Permittees must be at least 18 years of age.12

·         Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in North Carolina reduced the number of permits by 75% and will issue only 136 permits. The harvest season is reduced from four to two weeks (September 1 to 15). Permits will be issued through a lottery system at each district office. A permit allows one-to-three wet pounds of wild ginseng to be har­vested in the district where the permit is issued. In addition, the Forest Service said it will increase enforcement efforts and penal­ties for unlawful ginseng collection.13

·         Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia limited the harvest season to September 15 to 28. The Forest Service will only issue 42 annual permits. Permits will be issued through a lottery system. A permit allows the harvest of 0.5 wet pound of wild ginseng in the ranger district where the permit is issued. In addition, the Forest Service is increasing law enforcement efforts to reduce poaching.14

·         Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky limited the harvest season to September 15 to 30. The Forest Service will issue only 60 permits, for one wet pound of wild ginseng. Permits will be issued through a lottery system.15

"These changes will help ensure the sustainability of ginseng," FWS stated in its 2013 non-detriment finding.


Ensuring Sustainability

FWS reported in its 2013 non-detriment finding that Forest Service and National Park Service officials have increased enforcement efforts to curtail illegal harvesting. Officials have increased the marking of wild ginseng roots with permanent markers like colored dyes to detect illegally harvested roots. The harvest of all wildlife, including ginseng, on National Park Service lands is strictly prohibited.

FWS also identifies a number of future actions "to continue to minimize the impact of harvest of ginseng for international trade." These actions include the following:

  • supporting efforts in Vermont to delay the start of the harvest season until September 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; and
  • investigating how wild-simulated roots can be reported separately from wild roots in State annual reports so that the impact of harvests on wild populations and the status of the species can better be assessed.

AHPA has long been an advocate of good collection practices to ensure the long-range survival of wild American ginseng. In 2006, AHPA worked cooperatively with FWS, United Plant Savers, and the Ohio-based Roots of Appalachia Growers Association to create a brochure for each of the 19 harvest/export ginseng-range states to provide information on state regulations and input on best harvest practices. These “Good Stewardship Harvesting of Wild American Ginseng” brochures are available at no cost and are regularly updated to stay current with each state’s regulations.

In addition, in support of the recommendations in the FWS 2012 non-detriment findings, and in earlier findings, AHPA sent letters in 2010 to the appropri­ate agencies in Georgia, Kentucky, and Virginia expressing support of new state rules to improve the management of wild ginseng in these states.16 AHPA noted in these letters that the adop­tion of these rules, in addition to those already in place in each state, would create better regulatory consistency throughout the wild ginseng harvest range and would protect the continued harvest of wild ginseng.

“The responsible harvest of wild ginseng from natural forests has provided substantial income for people living in economically marginalized regions,” said AHPA President Michael McGuffin. “Promoting and passing down these responsible harvesting practices helps ensure the sustainability of wild American ginseng which helps improve local economies and conserve the biodiversity of Eastern American forests.”


Quick Facts about the 2012 Wild American Ginseng Harvest

The following information was taken from the 2013 FWS non-detriment finding3

·         22.7 tons of wild and wild-simulated American ginseng were legally exported in 2012;

·         27.5 tons (roughly 13 million plants) of dried wild and wild-simulated roots were harvested during the 2012 season;

·         There was a 6% decline in the 2012 wild and wild-simulated ginseng harvest compared to 2011;

·         Many states reported that drought impacted the availability of ginseng in 2012.




The following graphs represent ginseng export data from 2004-2012, as calculated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Only a few states distinguish wild simulated ginseng from wild ginseng and some call wild simulated ginseng "artificially propagated" ginseng—likely due to confusion about the CITES definition of "artificially propagated." These issues should be considered when viewing the graphs, which are included to illustrate the drastic ups-and-downs in export for both categories.
 








References

1. Chitty H. 2013 Wild American ginseng harvest. AHPA Report. September 2013. Silver Spring, MD: American Herbal Products Association.

2. Chamberlain JL, Prisley S, McGuffin M. Understanding the relationships between American ginseng harvest and hardwood forests inventory and timber harvest to improve co-management of the forests of Eastern United States. J Sustain Forest. 2013 July 29; 32(6):605-624.

3. General advice for the export of roots of wild and wild-simulated American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) legally harvested during the 2013 harvest season. United States Department of the Interior: Fish and Wildlife Service. Issued September 5, 2013. Available here. Accessed August 21, 3013.

4.  U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service CITES nondetriment finding for wild American Ginseng. September 7, 2012. Available here. Accessed August 21, 3013.

5. Georgia ginseng management program. Georgia Department of Natural Resources: Wildlife Resources Division website. Available here. Accessed August 21, 2013.

6. Ginseng. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website. Available here. Accessed August 21, 2013.

7. Virginia’s ginseng harvest season begins September 1, 2013 [press release]. Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; August 1, 2013. Available here. Accessed August 21, 2013.

8. Proposed amendments to the ginseng rules. Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets website. Available here. Accessed August 26, 2013.

9. DNR to prohibit wild ginseng harvest on public lands. Maryland Department of Natural Resources website. August 5, 2013. Available here. Accessed August 26, 2013.

10. Smith T. Maryland officials ban harvest of dwindling American ginseng from public lands. HerbalEGram. September 2013. 10(9). Available here. Accessed September 25, 2013.

11. Celebrating wildflowers: collection permits. US Forest Service website. Available here.

12. Ginseng harvesting in Cherokee National Forest [fact sheet]. US Forest Service: Cherokee National Forest. July 26, 2013. Available here.

13. Forest Service limits ginseng harvest to protect plant [press release]. Asheville, North Carolina: US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, National Forests in North Carolina; June 20, 2013. Available here.

14. Ginseng harvesting on the Chattahoochee National Forest. US Department of Agriculture Forest Service website. Available here.

15. Forest product permits. US Forest Service Daniel Boone National Forest website. Available here. Accessed October 3, 2013.  

16. McGuffin M. Re: Harvest of wild ginseng in Georgia. Letter to Trina Morris and Lisa Kruse, Georgia Department of Natural Resources. September 21, 2010. Available here.