Sustainable harvest, people and pandas: Assessing a decade of managed wild harvest and trade in Schisandra sphenanthera

Abstract

A decade after the project first started, there is strong evidence for the pro-conservation micro- and small enterprise model. For example, through the establishment of a TCM cooperative with members in 22 villages engaged in sustainable resource management, harvesting and equitable trade of TCM ingredients with organic and panda-friendly branding. The project benefited from multi-disciplinary collaboration of experts in ethnoecology, TCM, panda biology and habitat, nature conservation, sustainability standards and international trade. Inviting interested companies at the start enabled a transition from a funded-project to annual contracts for sustainably harvested TCM herbal drugs. At end of project (2011), the companies and NGOs remained engaged and motivating for completion of activities started during the project. Major eventual outcomes rooted in the initial project included Chinese government authorisation of the FairWild Standard (2016) and Giant Panda Friendly Products Standard (2017).

Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine to strengthen conservation outcomes

“…Interventions and policies that consider the perspectives of affected stakeholders can succeed in producing a desired change (Heberlein, 2012). The success of the initiative to sustainably harvest southern Schisandra fruit in panda habitat (Brinckmann et al., 2018) demonstrates that cooperation between conservationists and TCM stakeholders can indeed produce positive conservation outcomes while facilitating sustainable TCM development. Recognizing the cultural significance of TCM and gaining a working knowledge of this medical system can empower conservationists to find solutions that work for both TCM stakeholders and the biodiversity that we all wish to safeguard.…”

“…Interventions and policies that consider the perspectives of affected stakeholders can succeed in producing a desired change (Heberlein, 2012). The success of the initiative to sustainably harvest southern Schisandra fruit in panda habitat (Brinckmann et al, 2018)…”

Understanding China's political will for sustainability and conservation gains

“…This will likely increase demand for wildlife‐derived medicinal products, including threatened species products. With careful and strategic management, the risks that TCM industry growth poses to unsustainably or illegally traded wildlife can represent opportunities to establish well‐governed supply chains and integrate conservation objectives into sustainable TCM development (Brinckmann et al, 2018; Hinsley et al, 2020; Hughes et al, 2020). The success of an initiative to sustainably wild‐harvest the southern Schisandra fruit, a TCM ingredient, in giant panda habitat is an example of such integration (Brinckmann et al, 2018).…”

“…With careful and strategic management, the risks that TCM industry growth poses to unsustainably or illegally traded wildlife can represent opportunities to establish well‐governed supply chains and integrate conservation objectives into sustainable TCM development (Brinckmann et al, 2018; Hinsley et al, 2020; Hughes et al, 2020). The success of an initiative to sustainably wild‐harvest the southern Schisandra fruit, a TCM ingredient, in giant panda habitat is an example of such integration (Brinckmann et al, 2018). More broadly, the environmental consequences in China from three decades of rapid economic growth provides valuable lessons for other developing countries to ensure that BRI‐related development is environmentally sustainable, take advantage of modern environmental governance frameworks, and improve upon environmental impact assessments and strategic planning (Foggin, 2018; Turschwell et al, 2020).…”

Asian Medicinal Plants’ Production and Utilization Potentials: A Review

“…So far, in Asia, China and Japan have established Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) for medicinal plants [134]. A success story of wild harvesting certification on Schisandra sphenanthera in China can be a good example in applying this standard [137]. How these international standards are framed in national guidelines and how they are further linked to local practices remain unclarified.…”