justnorth posted on October 30, 2007 07:14 :: 1795 Views
MADISON – State officials are reminding people interested in harvesting wild ginseng in Wisconsin that ginseng harvest is highly regulated and may only be done under certain conditions.
To harvest wild ginseng, people must have a valid Wisconsin wild ginseng harvester’s license. Ginseng may only be harvested from private lands that the harvester owns or has permission to harvest ginseng from. All state and federal lands are closed to any harvest, and most other public lands are also closed. The harvest season runs only from Sept. 1 to Nov. 1.
Department of Natural Resources officials report there have been several arrests for ginseng harvesting on state lands in the last month.
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a long-lived perennial plant, commonly living to 30 or more years if not harvested earlier. As with most long-lived plants, ginseng produces only a few seeds each year. The plants generally don’t begin producing seed until four to five years of age, with the older plants producing more seeds.
“In order to sustain the long-term survival of the species, it is critical that plants be harvested only once they have matured and have had an opportunity to set seed for several years”, says Kelly Kearns, plant conservation program manager for the DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources, who coordinates the state’s wild ginseng program.
In order to prevent plants from being harvested when they are too young Wisconsin’s state law limits harvest to older plants with three or more leaves, or prongs, and a fruiting stalk, Kearns says.
“These plants are usually at least five years of age, the minimum age limit for exporting the roots from the country. Diggers can age the plants by counting the stem scars on the neck of the root. There is one scar for each year the plant produced leaves. Diggers may want to take along a water bottle to wash off the soil and magnifying glass to count the scars when hunting ginseng,” she says.
Young or small plants should be carefully replanted and allowed to grow a few more years. State law requires that the fruits from any harvested plants must be replanted in the vicinity of the plant that is taken.
“Once harvested, loose soil should be removed from the roots, but they should not be scrubbed. They may be sold only to licensed Wild Wisconsin Ginseng Dealers. Most dealers will buy the roots either fresh or air-dried. Never try to dry ginseng roots in a microwave oven as it destroys the roots,” Kearns cautions.
Most harvested roots are certified, exported and used as traditional Chinese medicine.
Throughout eastern North America ginseng harvesters and researchers have been reporting decreases in ginseng populations and root size over recent years. In addition to harvest pressure by human diggers, Kearns says ginseng plants face many other obstacles in their attempt to reach a reproductive age.
“Deer, turkeys and rodents nip off the plants or feed on the seeds. Drought and floods can kill plants, as can the fungal diseases that can thrive in cool moist springs. Forest fragmentation caused by houses and roads going through woodlands may be a major threat. Logging and recreation can directly impact ginseng plants. Invasive plants such as garlic mustard, buckthorn and honeysuckle are also shading out the ginseng plants in many woodlands, especially in the southern counties where wild ginseng is more likely to be found,” she says.
Despite the decreasing populations, there is still a high demand for wild roots. American ginseng was listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a treaty that regulates trade in animals and plants to ensure the survival of wild populations. The listing means that export permits must be issued by the country of origin, which must determine that a particular shipment for export was legally acquired and that the export will not be detrimental to the survival of that species in the wild. Through strict controls on harvest, sales and exports, state and federal officials are hoping to minimize the impacts of harvest on struggling ginseng populations.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Kearns - (608) 267-5066
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