High altitude species, high profits: Can the trade in wild harvested Fritillaria cirrhosa (Liliaceae) be sustained?

Cunningham, Anthony B.; Brinckmann, J.A.; Pei, Shunping; Luo, Peng; Schippmann, U.; Long, Xiaofeng; Bi, Yong

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.05.004

Cited by 71 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…In Nepal, Neopicrorhiza is one of the high‐valued MAPs of the alpine region with a century‐long trade history (Olsen, ; Olsen & Larsen, ). In recent years, the exploitation of herbal and fungal MAPs has become a significant challenge for sustainable resource management in the Himalayas (Cunningham et al, ; Negi, Pant, Joshi, & Bohra, ). Presently, due to lucrative markets and surging prices, the collection of the highly valued parasitic fungus Ophiocordyceps has exceeded the total income from the harvest of all other MAPs (Negi et al, ; Pouliot et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Harvest effects on density and biomass of Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora vary along environmental gradients in the Nepalese Himalayas

Poudeyal

Meilby

Shrestha

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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A surprisingly large number of species potentially threatened by human harvest lack quantitative ecological studies incorporating harvest effects, especially clonal species in the alpine Himalayas. We studied density and biomass variation of a threatened medicinal herb, Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora, to examine the effect of harvest on plant performance. The study covered two regions with contrasting harvest situations—one with open‐access and another protected from commercial harvesting. Four populations from each region were compared along an elevation gradient (3,800–4,800 m). Also, we conducted in situ interviews with 165 and 38 medicinal and aromatic plant users in open‐access and protected regions, respectively, to assess the collection and use patterns of the target species. The quantity harvested per household for traditional healthcare use was similar in both regions. We found no evidence of trade‐driven collection in the protected region but in the open‐access region a trade‐based annual collection of 35–465 kg dried rhizomes per household had a strong negative effect on both density and biomass. In the protected region, the effect of harvest intensity on plant density was positive for vegetative and negative for reproductive individuals, whereas in the open‐access region, the effect was negative for both vegetative and reproductive individuals. The results indicated that a low harvest intensity had no adverse impact on N. scrophulariiflora populations; however, quantification of the optimum level of harvest remains to be explored. Shrub vegetation appeared to buffer the harvest impact on plant density, possibly through the retention of additional moisture. To maintain population viability, we suggest regulating harvest, for example, by introducing rotational harvest systems, ensuring that a sufficient number of reproductive individuals are left as a source of propagules in each harvested population and that populations are given time to recover between harvests.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Harvest effects on density and biomass of Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora vary along environmental gradients in the Nepalese Himalayas

Poudeyal

Meilby

Shrestha

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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“…It is recognized as ''Lu Bei,'' as a sub-category of ''Chuan Bei Mu'' in pharmacopoeia and the market. These listed plants are of the most intensively harvested medicinal herb in China, 20 making China the biggest market for ''Chuan Bei Mu'' and other related traditional medicine. Although not so famous as F. cirrhosa (so called ''Qing Bei'' as a sub-category), bulbs of F. delavayi also have a high price and are often fraudulently traded under the same name ''Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae'' 21 .…”

Section: Reportmentioning

confidence: 99%

Commercial Harvesting Has Driven the Evolution of Camouflage in an Alpine Plant

2021

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“…For some CMM, including tendrilleaf fritillary bulbs (川貝母/川贝母/ chuān bèi mǔ ; Fritillaria spp.) and Paris rhizomes (重樓/重楼/ chóng lóu ; Paris polyphylla ), cultivated yields are unable to meet demand, and significant quantities remain wild‐harvested despite protection (Cunningham, Brinckmann, Bi, et al., 2018; Cunningham, Brinckmann, Pei, et al., 2018). In addition to the loss of livelihoods for wild‐harvesters, cultivation is also associated with a number of other challenges, including long lead times before harvesting, concerns over pharmacological efficacy and problems associated with pesticide use (Kling, 2016; Leung et al., 2005).…”

Section: A Better Understanding Of Tcm: Implications For Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine to strengthen conservation outcomes

et al. 2020

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High altitude species, high profits: Can the trade in wild harvested Fritillaria cirrhosa (Liliaceae) be sustained?

Cited by 71 publications

References 22 publications

Harvest effects on density and biomass of Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora vary along environmental gradients in the Nepalese Himalayas

Harvest effects on density and biomass of Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora vary along environmental gradients in the Nepalese Himalayas

Commercial Harvesting Has Driven the Evolution of Camouflage in an Alpine Plant

Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine to strengthen conservation outcomes

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