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Valuation of Commercial Medicinal Plants of Nepal
An article in recent issue of Ambio by Carsten Smith Olsen of the Danish Centre for Forest, Landscape, and Planning at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Copenhagen estimates the national-level annual volume and value of commercial medicinal plant harvest in Nepal.
Based on the data collected from local medicinal plant traders in 15 districts in Nepal and regional wholesalers in India, the study estimates the annual trade volume to be in the range of 7000 to 27 000 tons and the corresponding annual export value in the range of US$7–30 million. Around 10% of rural households are involved in commercial harvesting.
Lower ecological zones dominate supplies in both volume and value terms; herbs constitute the most important life form in value terms. Around 36% of volume and 51% of value derive from destructive harvesting. The paper also briefly discusses the implications of findings for Himalayan medicinal plant conservation and trade.
Olsen, Carsten Smith. Valuation of Commercial Central Himalayan Medicinal Plants.
AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 2005 34: 607-610
Terrific range
Having not gone through the full paper of Dr. Olsen though, I am wondering, the ranges of the export value as well as volume presented are unbelievably large and the estimation of destructive harvesting is unrealistic, while more than 70% volume come from destructive harvesting in many regions of Nepal. However, the estimation based on random studies is better than no studies.
the range so wide ...
Though I have not gone through the full paper, based on the excerpts presented here, it is interesting. the range is, 20,000 m tons and 23 million USD! One more observation: lower ecological zone, I assume, is lowlands (Tarai and Chure) from where supplies excel to other ecological zones, which I think is another interesting area. In the meantime, it would be interesting to know how the 'destructive harvest' and the 'harvesters' are coping with securing their share in every successive years. Anyway, I thank you for the study and information.
On volume of trade and destructive harvest
Yes, the volume is large. Some may find the figures "unbelievable"; however, they are backed by empirical data. Of course, the estimate is not derived from a "random" study but rather using a consistent data collection format applied across the whole country.
Regarding "destructive" harvesting, this should not be confused with "unsustainable" harvesting. In the above paper, destrutive merely refers to the mode of harvesting, e.g. removing jatamansi rhizomes will destroy the harvested plant. That does not, however, necessarily mean that the harvesting is unsustainable.
Best regards,
Dr. C.S. Olsen
On lower ecological zones
In the paper, lower ecological zones refer to the low tropical, upper tropical and sub-tropical ecological zones. Of course, these are mainly found in lowlands but they also extend into the middle hills. For a good overview of ecological zones in Nepal, please refer to the publication below that can be freely downloaded at www.sl.kvl.dk :
Lillesø J-P.B., Shrestha T.B., Dhakal L.P., Nayaju R.P. and Shrestha R. 2005. The map of potential vegetation of Nepal - a forestry/agro-ecological/biodiversity classification system. Forest & Landscape Development and Environment Series 2-2005, Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen.
Best regards,
Dr. C.S. Olsen