Medicinal Plant Conservation
MEDICINAL PLANT SPECIALIST GROUP Silphion
Volume 11 Newsletter of the Medicinal Plant Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Chaired by Danna J. Leaman
Chair’s note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP) – Danna Leaman . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Regional File
Sustainable sourcing of Arnica montana in the Apuseni Mountains (Romania): A field project – Wolfgang Kathe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Rhodiola rosea L., from wild collection to field production – Bertalan Galambosi . . . . . . . . . . 31 Conservation data sheet Ginseng – Dagmar Lange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Iracambi Medicinal Plants Project in Minas Gerais (Brazil) and the International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP) – Eleanor Gallia & Karen Franz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Conferences and Meetings
Conservation aspects of Aconitum species in the Himalayas with special reference to Uttaranchal (India) – Niranjan Chandra Shah . . . . . . . 9
Recent Events
Coming up – Natalie Hofbauer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 CITES News – Uwe Schippmann . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Promoting the cultivation of medicinal plants in Uttaranchal, India – Ghayur Alam & Petra van de Kop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Conservation Assessment and Management Prioritisation (CAMP) for wild medicinal plants of North-East India – D.K. Ved, G.A. Kinhal, K. Ravikumar, R. Vijaya Sankar & K. Haridasan . 40
Taxon File
Notices of Publication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Trade in East African Aloes – Sara Oldfield . . . . 19 Towards a standardization of biological sustainability: Wildcrafting Rhatany (Krameria lappacea) in Peru – Maximilian Weigend & Nicolas Dostert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
ISSN 1430-95X
List of Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
1 August 2005
Under a MoU with the CITES Secretariat, the MPSG is supporting in a process to amend the annotations for some CITES medicinal species and to include the major commodities in the CITES listing. This will lead to a meaningful trade monitoring and will enable the CITES parties to take adequate conservation decisions. At PC 15, a document was presented by the MPSG with recommendations for modified annotations (www.cites.org/common/com/PC/15/X-PC15-08-Inf. pdf). Uwe Schippmann chaired a working group in Geneva which reviewed these proposals and installed an intersessional working group (www.cites.org/com mon/com/PC/15/X-PC15-WG5.pdf). Information request to MPC readers With this request we ask our readers for their help improving information about the trade in Podophyllum hexandrum. Podophyllum hexandrum is one of the species in the review with very limited information on trade. If readers have information as to which commodities (plant part, processing stage, volumes) of this species enter international trade we would highly appreciate if they let us know. Please get in contact with the author (
[email protected]). Your data will be introduced in the process and your authorship acknowledged. 2.4 Harpagophytum Although never listed on one of the CITES Appendices, Devil’s Claw has kept the PC busy for some years. Several tasks of the CoP had to be carried out, mainly requesting range and importing states to report on their activities towards sustainable utilisation, notably through government-industry interaction. Germany as the major importer of Devil’s Claw submitted a report in this respect: www.cites.org/common/com/ PC/15/X-PC15-11-Inf.pdf. 2.5 Guaiacum sanctum The Mexican delegation reported on the progress of a study on abundance, distribution and conservation status of this Mexican species which is in trade for timber and medicinal uses. The project is co-funded by Mexico and the two importing countries USA and Germany. The outcomes of this study will have an impact on the import policy of the European Union which has currently restricted imports of G. sanctum from Mexico (www.cites.org/eng/com/PC/15/E-PC15-23.pdf). All internet resources mentioned in this paper have been viewed on 17.8.2005.
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CAMP Workshops
Conservation Assessment and Management Prioritisation (CAMP) for wild medicinal plants of North-East India D.K. Ved, G.A. Kinhal, K. Ravikumar, R. Vijaya Sankar & K. Haridasan Introduction The north-eastern region of India is known for its rich floristic diversity. It has been estimated that this region harbours around 7,500 taxa of flowering plants which constitutes nearly 40 % of the floristic diversity of India currently reported to be 19,400 taxa (KARTHIKEYAN 2000). This region is also known for its unique medicinal plant wealth which is now perceived to be dwindling and threatened with rapid decline due to several factors which include habitat loss and degradation as well as unsustainable exploitation of the wild resources. The CAMP (Conservation Assessment and Management Prioritisation) process has been effectively utilized by FRLHT (Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions) over the past 10 years to undertake rapid assessment of prioritised medicinal plant species of conservation concern in different states/regions of India. For the medicinal plants of India, this methodology has been pioneered by the CBSG (Conservation Breeding Specialist Group) – India, in collaboration with FRLHT, since 1995. FRLHT has so far facilitated 10 such workshops for different states of India. These exercises have resulted in assessment of a total of 304 medicinal plant taxa including 100 endemic and/or near endemic ones. Of the 304 taxa assessed, 265 taxa have been assigned Red List status of “threatened” category i.e. Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable. A CAMP workshop for medicinal plants of NorthEast Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim was held at Guwahati (Assam) during 27th February to 1st March 2003 (VED et al. 2003). A total of 34 Indian participants belonging to several well known institutions like Botanical Survey of India, State Forest Research Institute of Arunachal Pradesh, University, other Research Institutions and Colleges of north-eastern region actively participated in the workshop. Most of the participants were experienced field botanists and foresters and their active participation made the successful conduct of this rigorous assessment workshop possible.
Medicinal Plant Conservation 11
Preparatory Workshop
cluded making addition on bibliographic records and recent field studies, besides perceptions of population reduction, distribution etc. as well as the Red List status. The final plenary session involving all the participants reviewed the contents of each TDS, one by one, and finalised it with appropriate corrections with consensus. Summary of results, relating to RL status assigned to each taxon, are presented state wise in Table 2.
As is the practice for such workshops, preparatory exercise was held a day ahead of the main workshop involving such participants who were to take up the responsibilities of Facilitators and Recorders in the working groups of the workshop. The IUCN Red List criteria and categories (ANONYMOUS 2001) were explained and discussed with these partici- Table 2. State wise number of taxa evaluated. pants in suffi- Assigned Red List Category Arunachal Pradesh Assam Meghalaya Sikkim Total taxa cient detail to Critically Endangered 6 (G: 2) 1 4 (G: 1) 1 9 (G: 2) facilitate smooth 12 (G: 1) 8 (G: 1) 7 (G: 2) 8 22 (G: 3) conduct of the Endangered main workshop Vulnerable 17 (G: 2) 7 (G: 1) 13 (G: 1) 12 (G: 1) 26 (G: 2) and proper re35 (G: 5) 16 (G: 2) 24 (G: 4) 21 (G: 1) 46 (G: 7) cording of the Threatened taxa data in the Taxon Near Threatened 8 1 2 2 10 Data Sheets 3 2 Least Concern 1 2 6 (TDS). Short-listing of species for assessment
Data Deficient
1
3
5
9
11
Total taxa assessed
47
22
32
34
50
Note: "G" refers to the number of taxa assigned Global RL status.
At the start of the main workshop, the participants deliberated upon and discussed each of the 74 taxa short-listed during the preparatory process based on inputs relating to their conservation concern. This initial list of 74 taxa was generated based on inputs from two sources. Firstly, the FRLHT team listed 60 taxa of the region using several criteria like high volume trade, endemic status, phylogenetic distinctness, reported rarity and/or rapid decline in availability, by referring to the databases on trade, distribution and traditional systems of medicine being maintained at FRLHT. The scientists of the State Forest Research Institute (SFRI) of Arunachal Pradesh at Itanagar, and other potential participants of the workshop proposed selection of 14 more taxa based on their experiences and observations. The status of information/data available with the participants, on each of the taxa, was quickly reviewed and this resulted in arriving at the final list of 50 taxa (Table 1), to be taken up for assessment, which could be covered in a 3-day workshop. These 50 taxa were divided into 4 sub-lists and each such sub-list consisting of 12-13 taxa was assigned to one of the four working groups for detailed deliberations and assessment (VED et al. 2003). Threat Assessment Process In the CAMP workshop process, the recorders of each group recorded the details relating to the distribution range, the population decline, trade etc. for each taxon being assessed, in the TDS. Each such compilation was reviewed by another group. Such review process in-
1 August 2005
The 50 assessed taxa belong to 45 genera from 33 flowering plant families, while 1 taxon is a non flowering plant (a tree fern). Orchidaceae is the most represented family (6 species), followed by Piperaceae (4 species), Valerianaceae and Ranunculaceae (3 species each). Among the assessed taxa the highest number is of herbs (25 species) followed by trees (15 species), climbers (6 species) and shrubs (4 species). Of the 50 taxa assessed, 46 have been assigned threat categories for one or more states and 7 of these are threatened globally being endemic or nearly so. These are Amentotaxus assamica, Citrus macroptera var. annamensis, Coptis teeta, Gymnocladus assamicus, Nepenthes khasiana, Piper pedicellatum and P. peepuloides. Of these, Arunachal Pradesh hosts 5 taxa, Assam 2, Meghalaya 4 and Sikkim 1. One of these 7 taxa, Piper peepuloides, occurs in all four states. Trade is a potential cause of threat for 43 taxa. Habitat loss is a common threat to all the taxa, while a few taxa are reportedly also threatened by other causes such as fire. Nepenthes khasiana is facing high threat due to over collection as a botanical curiosity. Dendrobium nobile is reportedly threatened on account of over collection for hybridisation with domesticated population. Conservation action: status and prospects Taxon specific conservation measures have been reported for Nepenthes khasiana (Meghalaya) and or41
42
Medicinal Plant Conservation 11
Gentiana quadrifaria Bl.
Drosera peltata Sm.
14
20
Dendrobium nobile Lindl.
13
Garcinia pedunculata Roxb.
Coptis teeta Wall.
12
19
Citrus macroptera Montr. var. annamensis Tanaka
11
Fritillaria cirrhosa D.Don
Cinnamomum tamala (Buch.-Ham.) Nees Lauraceae & Eberm.
10
18
Cibotium barometz Link.
9
Flickingeria fugax (Rchb.f.) Seidenf.
Cephalotaxus griffithii Hook.f.
8
17
Brucea mollis Wall. ex Kurz
7
Embelia ribes Burm.f.
Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb.
6
16
Aquilaria malaccensis Lam.
5
Elaeocarpus sphaericus (Gaertn.) K.Schum.
Tree
Amentotaxus assamica D.K.Ferguson
4
15
Tree
Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. ex Royle
Gentianaceae
Clusiaceae
Liliaceae
Orchidaceae
Myrsinaceae
Elaeocarpaceae
Droseraceae
Orchidaceae
Ranunculaceae
Rutaceae
Cyatheaceae
Cephalotaxaceae
Simaroubaceae
Saxifragaceae
Aquilariaceae
Taxaceae
Ranunculaceae
Herb
Tree
Herb
Herb
Liana
Tree
Herb
Herb
Herb
Tree
Tree
Shrub
Herb
Tree
Tree
Herb
Herb
3
Ranunculaceae
Aconitum ferox Wall. ex Ser.
Tree
Habit
2
Pinaceae
Family
Abies densa W.Griff. ex Parker
Botanical Name
1
S. No.
Table 1. 1. Results Results of of Guwahati Guwahati CAMP, CAMP, North-East North-East India India (February (February 2003) 2003) Table
NT (AR); EN (AS); DD (ME, SI) LC (AR); VU (ME); DD (SI)
EN (AR, SI)
EN (AR, AS, ME, SI)
DD (AR, AS, ME, SI)
VU (AR, AS); DD (SI)
VU (AR, SI); EN (AS, ME) NT (AR); LC (AS); VU (ME); DD (SI)
EN (AR)
EN (AS, ME)
A2cd
A2cd
A2cd
A2cd
-
A2cd
A2cd
A2cd; A3cd
A2cd
B2ab(iii)
A2cd
A2cd
NT (AR); EN (AS); VU (ME) VU (AR, ME); DD (AS, SI)
A2cd
A2cd
EN (AR, AS); NT (ME); DD (SI) EN (AR)
A2cd
A2cd
EN (G)
EN (G)
continued...
5−10
50−60
10−15
30−40
≈5
