“CONSERVATION THROUGH CULTIVATION:” ECONOMIC, SOCIO-POLITICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF GINSENG FOREST FARMING IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Open Access
- Author:
- Burkhart, Eric P
- Graduate Program:
- Forest Resources
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- September 29, 2010
- Committee Members:
- Michael Gregory Jacobson, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Michael Gregory Jacobson, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
William James Lamont Jr., Committee Member
James Craig Finley, Committee Member
Lee Ann Newsom, Committee Member
Richard Stedman, Committee Member - Keywords:
- American ginseng
agroforestry
forest farming
non-timber forest products
wild plant conservation - Abstract:
- “Conservation through cultivation” is an approach to wild plant conservation where individuals are encouraged and/or facilitated to transition from a purely extractive-based exploitation (e.g., wild-harvesting) to a more intentional, and sustainable, plant husbandry (c.f., Alcorn 1995). This approach can be most successful when there is contextual understanding of how such transitions can be successfully made and what constraints exist. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is a slow growing herbaceous perennial forest plant collected from Pennsylvania forestlands for more than 250 years. Little is known about the wild ginseng industry in the state and concerns exist regarding the sustainability of continued wild extraction. “Conservation through cultivation” holds promise as a conservation pathway for this species, especially as a component of agroforestry land-use systems, yet there are many basic questions to answer to help facilitate this transition. Accordingly, this study simultaneously investigated economic, socio-political, and ecological questions relating to forest-based production of ginseng in Pennsylvania. An interdisciplinary approach involving a survey instrument, key informant interviews, facilitated discussions, field habitat studies and financial modeling was used between 2002 and 2009 to gather and develop information pertinent to managing, sustaining and/or expanding this industry through agroforestry cultivation. Collectively, results from these data collection efforts indicate excellent potential for a “conservation through cultivation” approach to help conserve ginseng in Pennsylvania, while providing economic opportunities. However, key challenges exist with regard to socio-political aspects of this transition. Specifically, results suggest that a variety of husbandry activities are already used to produce “wild” ginseng, ranging from intensive “forest farming” to casual “seed stocking” in select forested areas. This scenario presents a dilemma regarding interpretation of “wild” harvest data because current industry reporting mechanisms are insufficient to accommodate the complex range of husbandry practices used, and which often result in “wild” appearing roots. In addition, this investigation found that many stakeholders, including those already growing ginseng on their forestlands, were concerned about “government management efforts” to date. Specifically, there is demand for more emphasis on proactive government conservation efforts including greater support for planting on forestlands and less emphasis on reactive tactics such as additional regulations and paperwork. These and other related findings suggest government agencies such as the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) should work to develop mechanisms and processes for improved (i.e., more accurate, less cumbersome) industry tracking and enforcement but that these efforts should be informed by stakeholders on a continuous basis through annual point-of-sale and industry contact to evaluate efficacy and elucidate any sources of discord that undermine public and industry compliance with management goals and programs. The development of producer certification mechanisms could benefit all stakeholders if it successfully addresses the many existing “transparency” issues surrounding the wild ginseng trade. Finally, results from field studies of ginseng habitat in Pennsylvania indicate that a specific assemblage of floristic “indicators” can be used to help guide adoption on forestlands in the state, and that certain assemblages can provide additional forest products (e.g., maple syrup, timber) that can encourage ginseng husbandry on forestlands as part of an integrated forest stewardship opportunity emphasizing both economic and ecological diversity.