HERBAL HARVESTS WITH A FUTURE Towards sustainable sources for medicinal plants Plantlife International Plantlife International is a charity dedicated exclusively to conserving all forms of plant life, in their natural habitats, in the UK, Europe and across the world. We act directly to stop common wild plants becoming rare in the wild, to rescue wild plants on the brink of extinction and to protect sites of exceptional botanical importance. We carry out practical conservation work, influence relevant policy,and collaborate widely to promote the cause of wild plant conservation.
Plantlife International 14 Rollestone Street Salisbury Wiltshire, SP1 1DX UK Tel:+44 (0)1722 342730 Fax: +44 (0)1722 329035 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.plantlife.org.uk
Acknowledgements Plantlife International is extremely grateful for the advice and support of Susanne Schmidt and Alan Hamilton of WWF-UK and James Fearnley from the Herbal Apothecary (Planet Herbs) in the development of this report. The original idea was developed in consultation with the Medicinal Plant Sustainability Forum.
We extend our gratitude to Sarah Laird of Rainforest Alliance for providing the questionnaire design used in the research. Data from this UK report were also analysed as part of the global survey by the Rainforest Alliance study (Laird and Pierce, 2002).
Finally,Plantlife International and Julie Behrens are extremely grateful to representatives from those organisations that participated in the research, especially Baldwin and Co., Body Shop, Boots, Chinese Medicine Association of Suppliers,Europam (European Herbs Growers Asssociation), GNC, Grannery Herbs, Herbal Botanics, Herbal Food Manufacture Association, National Herb Centre, National Institute of Herbal Medicine, Neals Yard Remedies, Potters, Proline Botanicals, Quest Vitamins Ltd.,Rutland Organic, Solgar UK,The Herb Exchange Ltd., and the University of Westminster.
Written by Gail Vines based on research by Julia Behrens. Julia Behrens 9 Walpole Terrace Brighton, Sussex BN2 2EB
A copy of the full research report is available on request from Plantlife International.
This is a Plantlife International project conducted in collaboration with the Herbal Apothecary (Planet Herbs) and WWF-UK HERBAL HARVESTS WITH A FUTURE Towards sustainable sources for medicinal plants
In a nutshell Part 1: Setting the scene
The importance of the herbal medicine Ancient medicines, new dilemmas medicine are cultivated, in terms of the industry is growing. More than 80 per cent of number of species utilized, the great majority the world’s population depends on herbal Perhaps because a delight in wild plants seems are still collected from the wild. Some of medicine for their primary health care and to us the most natural and innocent of these are common and fast-growing and more than a quarter of the United Kingdom emotions, it’s easy to forget that, in much of there is no conservation concern. However, population use herbal medicine regularly. the world, wild species are prized as much for others are more vulnerable with their Most material used in herbal medicine and their value as food or as medicinal remedies. populations becoming diminished.The vitamin supplements is taken from wild plants The World Health Organization estimates dangers are genetic erosion of populations, and the rapidly growing demand for medicinal that more than 80 per cent of the world local extinction and habitat degradation. plants, compounded by habitat loss, is putting population depends primarily on herbal pressure on many species. The need for medicine for their basic healthcare needs. As any school child knows, plants are the action is recognised in the Global Strategy for foundation upon which the rest of life Plant Conservation targets agreed by the Today,the ancient art of herbal medicine is depends. Without wild plants the animal Parties to the Convention on Biological undergoing something of a renaissance in the kingdom would vanish. Indeed, the life- Diversity. Research conducted for this paper developed world. Four UK universities support systems of the planet can only be included interviews with a number of people currently offer BSc degrees in herbal medicine, maintained by protecting plant diversity.If we connected with the UK herbal medicine reflecting the resurgence of interest in are to continue to benefit from wild plants, industry.The results are a set of traditional botanical treatments for a wide for example through medicine, Plantlife recommendations aimed at achieving greater variety of ills. In one recent British poll, a International believes that they must be used sustainability throughout the industry. quarter of the people surveyed said they use sustainably.This is why we are committed to Plantlife International proposes the herbal medicine regularly. Not surprisingly, the principles of sustainable use as enshrined introduction of certification schemes with herbalism has become big business: in 1994, for in the Convention on Biological Diversity appropriate chain of custody mechanisms, the instance, £88 million of herbal medicines and agreed at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. development of a code of practice for health foods were imported into Britain alone. This also explains why we worked for and will industry,the incorporation of sustainability help to implement the Global Strategy for principles in law, more support for cultivation This remarkable revival raises new dilemmas Plant Conservation.Three of the sixteen and a new programme of research and for plant conservationists.Although some targets commit governments to use plants education. plant species used in large quantities in herbal sustainably.
A quarter of the British population use herbal medicine regularly Joe Sutton/Plantlife Joe
HERBAL HARVESTS WITH A FUTURE 3 Uncontrolled harvesting from the wild
Why conservation action is uva-ursi – are used in treatments for kidney urgently needed or digestive problems, yet often the whole plant is uprooted. If only the required parts of The pressure on wild plant communities can the plant had been collected, it might not be substantial. In Europe alone, for instance, now be so rare in Albania,Bulgaria, the Czech some 1300 medicinal plants are used Republic, Romania and the Netherlands. commercially,with up to 90 per cent collected from the wild.Worldwide, some Sometimes the damage can lead to two-thirds of all medicinal plants are degradation of habitats. Industrial-scale harvested from the wild. Most raw material in harvesting of wild thyme Thymus spp. in Spain international trade comes from Europe, involves the uprooting of whole plants and North America,India and China, where wild can lead to extensive soil erosion. In addition, collection is often an important part of rural some rare species of thyme are becoming economies. endangered through indiscriminant collection. Similar problems with unsuitable At the moment, wasteful harvesting harvesting methods have been experienced techniques are commonplace. For instance, in the case of kava kava Piper methysticum in only the leaves of the bearberry Arctostaphylos the South Pacific. The main active ingredients
Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva- ursi leaves help relieve kidney or digestive problems
4 HERBAL HARVESTS WITH A FUTURE Market trader selling ginseng, Quinghan Dao, N E China David Tipling/Nature Tipling/Nature David PL
kava are found in the roots and rootstocks, in both Hungary and Turkey.Many other and are a group of compounds known as the commonly used medicinal plants are under kavalactones. In one incident in 1996, 17 threat, including unicorn root Chamaelirium people died in a landslide that followed clear- luteum, goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis and harvesting. American ginseng Panax quinquefolius. Asian ginseng Panax ginseng is also rare in the wild The plight of liquorice Glycyrrhiza glabra, now, although the huge demand is now popularly used in cough syrups, toothpastes, mostly supplied by cultivation especially in drink flavourings, cakes and fire extinguishers, Korea. hints at the scale of the problem. Europe imported some 6000 tonnes of the root in The challenge for everyone – herbalist and 1996, mostly from Asia,and, in the same year, conservationist alike – is to find ways to exported 2700 tonnes.A huge decline in support the use of herbal medicine without exports from Turkey,Europe’s biggest fostering the overexploitation of the world’s exporter – from 3040 tonnes in 1991 to only wild plants. At the moment, the trade in 985 tonnes in 1996 – reflects the growing medicinal plants is huge, and largely impact of non-sustainable harvesting.The unmonitored. It is highly likely that many plant is now rare in Bulgaria and threatened harvesting practices are at present unsustainable, threatening populations of medicinal plants and their habitats, and also Industrial-scale harvesting of wild thyme the livelihoods of those people engaged in Thymus spp. in Spain involves the uprooting of whole plants and can lead to extensive their collection.Urgent action is needed to soil erosion. find workable global solutions.
HERBAL HARVESTS WITH A FUTURE 5 All orchids are listed on Appendix II of CITES and some such as green-winged orchid Orchis morio are used to make salep and for making hot drinks Routes to regulation and ice-cream.
Legislation today lacks non-native European species are listed on abolition of internal borders.The revised EU sustainability clause Appendix II. regulations are stricter than those of CITES and include additional ‘at risk’ categories. Current legislation is unable to ensure that TRAFFIC, established in 1976 as a joint One of these categories refers to ‘species in medicinal plants are exploited in sustainable programme of the World Wildlife Fund need of monitoring’. For example, it includes ways. At the global level, the regulation of (WWF) and the World Conservation Union arnica (also known as leopard’s bane) Arnica international trade in botanicals (and other (IUCN) is a non-governmental organisation montana, bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, plant, as well as animal, species) is covered by which works closely with the CITES yellow gentian Gentiana lutea, and bogbean CITES, the Convention for International Trade Secretariat. TRAFFIC concentrates on (also known as marsh trefoil or bug bean) in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and international law and agreements relating to Menyanthes trifoliata, all imported in such Flora.This treaty,established in 1973 and sustainable wildlife trade. It is becoming numbers as to warrant a watchful eye. signed by 143 countries, prohibits trade in increasingly concerned about the medicinal more than 600 species of animals and plants plant trade and is now gathering information Demands for some of these plants can be (listed in Appendix I) threatened with and lobbying to inform and encourage particularly high because they are used for a extinction. Only one species of medicinal industry,practitioners, consumers, and state variety of complaints, and incorporated into plant, Saussurea lappa, has been specifically and federal agencies to take steps to protect hundreds of herbal preparations and vitamin listed in Appendix I because of concerns species and to ensure supplies of medicinal supplements. Bogbean, for instance, has about its trade as a medicinal.Appendix II lists plants will continue to be available in the been traditionally used for rheumatic 21,000 species of plants that may become future. complaints, skin diseases and for reducing extinct if nothing is done to protect them. fevers, and is also recognised as an aid to They may be imported for commercial At a European level, new legislation in the digestion and a stimulant to the appetite.Yet purposes if they have received an export form of amendments to the European Union this beautiful marsh plant, with its frothy licence, which should confirm that they been Wildlife Trade Regulation came into effect on pinkish-white flowers, grows in fragile obtained legally and from sustainable sources. 1 June 1997.These amendments are designed wetlands, and is declining throughout Forty-seven European medicinal plant to provide stricter controls than previously,in central and southern Europe owing to species, all of them bulbous plants, and 82 view of the problems brought about by habitat destruction. It is included in the Red
6 HERBAL HARVESTS WITH A FUTURE Data book for Hungary and Bulgaria. Collection Practice currently under development although these will not be In the UK, the Medicine Control Agency legally binding.WWF, TRAFFIC and IUCN are enforces laws regulating medicine, and is advising and lobbying hard for the inclusion of responsible for safeguarding public health by appropriate sustainability criteria in these ensuring that all medicines on the UK market guidelines. meet appropriate standards of safety,quality and efficacy. At present, many herbal products are marketed in the UK as food or dietary supplements.There is a proposal for a Meeting the Traditional Herbal Medicine Product Directive to be drawn up under the EU, a targets matter that is causing concern in the herbal industry,which fears that new labeling and International action for plant testing requirements will increase their costs conservation and consumer choice may be unnecessarily restricted. Unfortunately,the proposed The medicinal plants industry also needs to legislation does not at present include any take action if the UK is to meet its requirement that herbal products are international obligations, which include produced through sustainable harvesting (see ensuring that by 2010 at least 30 per cent of www.herbalert.org). Other efforts are under all plant-based products are derived from way to regulate the sourcing of medicinal sources that are sustainably managed.This plants from cultivation and wild collection. follows adoption of a Global Strategy for The most influential is likely to be the WHO Plant Conservation at the Sixth Conference guidelines on Good Agriculture and of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in April 2002.The strategy has 16 outcome-oriented targets to be achieved by 2010.The third of the five objectives of the strategy calls for plant diversity to be used sustainably,and includes three targets, which signatory nations need to meet by 2010, that are directly relevant to the future of the botanicals industry: Target 11 No species of wild flora endangered by international trade Target 12 30 per cent of plant-based products derived from sources that are sustainably managed Target 13 The decline of plant resources, and associated local and indigenous knowledge, innovations and practices, that support sustainable livelihoods, local food security and health care, halted
Bogbean Menyanthes trifoliata, prescribed for rheumatism, is declining throughout central and Eastern Europe.
The root of yellow gentian Gentiana lutea is used to treat anorexia, low stomach acidity, anemia and acts as a digestive tonic.
HERBAL HARVESTS WITH A FUTURE 7 Part II The research
How sustainable is the UK UK companies, industry associations and research herbal medicine industry? institutions interviewed
As a first step towards the sustainable Companies Industry associations sourcing of medicinal plants, a survey was Baldwin & Co National Institute of Medical Herbalists commissioned by Plantlife International Herbal Apothecary British Herb Trade Association. in collaboration with WWF-UK (World The Herb Exchange Ltd Health Food Manufacturing Association Wide Fund for Nature), Herbal Herbal Botanics Chinese Medicine Association of Suppliers Apothecary and members of the UK Solar Medicinal Plant Sustainability Forum.The Rutland Organics Herbal associations objective was to canvas views about Body Shop National Herb Association sustainability from people working in the Granary Herbs European Herbgrowers Association UK herbal medicine industry,as well as Quest Permaculture Association members of herbal associations and Proline Botanicals conservationists. From these Potters consultations, we have drawn up a set of Neal’s Yard recommendations, including a code of CNC practice that could be considered for Nelson adoption throughout the herbal medical Weleda industry to encourage sustainable East West Herbs sourcing of medicinal plants by herbal Boots companies.
Many well-known high- street shops are benefiting from the popularity of herbal products. Chris Jones
8 HERBAL HARVESTS WITH A FUTURE KEY MESSAGES FROM THE HERBAL MEDICINE INDUSTRY
Results of the survey Wild versus medicinal plants are also The key findings of the cultivated plants very difficult to cultivate, research are detailed below. Only six of the seventeen because of, for example, low Not only was there companies interviewed are germination rates and very remarkable consistency in growing even a small specific ecological the views expressed, but percentage of the medicinal requirements. also all those interviewed plants that they use. expressed extremely strong Generally,companies did Worries about opinions about these topics. not see it as their regulation A copy of the full research responsibility to invest in The primary concerns of report is available from the development of people working in the Plantlife International. cultivated sources. botanicals industry focused Furthermore, most on impending EU and UK New alliances expressed concern that regulations relating, in needed ‘growing their own’ might particular,to labelling and to Our research showed that not be economically viable the safety and there is a limited but in an uncertain market, and standardisation of products. growing awareness of the suggested that sourcing conservation problems cultivated stock of many Guidelines needed associated with the medicinal species through There was consensus that botanicals industry.Most wholesalers is not currently environmental and social companies said simply that possible. Establishing issues should be addressed they relied on “reputable partnerships with growers more directly by the dealers” for supplies of and drawing up long-term industry and herbalists herbal materials.They were contracts is one way through the creation and aware, however,that, companies can encourage adoption of agreed and because most materials are investment in cultivation of clear guidelines promoting bought through medicinal plants with the sustainability and fair trade. intermediaries, it is difficult added benefit to them of It would be useful for for them to know whether increased control over manufacturers to access the materials that they quality,price and volume. advice on where to purchase have been sourced But there are two very purchase sustainably sustainably.There was important factors here. produced ingredients, and strong agreement that Firstly,under current also information on partnerships and market and economic methods of sustainable mechanisms should be conditions, the cultivation of harvesting or cultivation for developed between many medicinal plants is particular species of plants. companies, NGOs and often not viable because, for source countries to ensure example, extended that the trade is socially and production times and the environmentally demand for relatively small responsible. quantities. Secondly,many
HERBAL HARVESTS WITH A FUTURE 9 Part III Recommendations
Steps towards eco-friendly trade in major undertaking and will take time to reduce the pressure on wild sources.There is medicinal plants evolve. It will have to include third party an urgent need to raise awareness among verification to ensure that standards are being herbalists and consumers about the parlous The following recommendations emerged upheld throughout the supply chain. state of many medicinal plants.At the same from the interviews with industry time, many plants used in herbal treatments representatives. Plantlife International will Codes of practice are not endangered, and the problem facing work with WWF-UK,Herbal Apocathery and Codes of practice should be drawn up and conservationists is how to devise messages to industry partners to help to implement these promoted by individual companies, industry the public that do not create unnecessary recommendations. associations (such as the Health Food alarm, while at the same time gaining public Manufacturing Association HFMA) and the support for necessary actions. Certification of sustainably British Herbal Manufacturers Association produced products (BHMA)) and practicing herbalists. In Support for cultivation A certification scheme, identified by a generic developing these codes consideration would The herbal industry needs to be encouraged ‘kite’ mark, for products known to be need to be given to monitoring their to invest in and support the cultivation of collected in sustainable ways could help to implementation and impact. medicinal plants (for example, through long- promote an ecologically responsible market term partnerships with growers).The use of in medicinal plants.A start has been made by Legislation cultivated plants would also increase the the Soil Association with its Organic There was general agreement that laws and industry’s control over the quality of the final Wildcrafting Standards, but as yet these are regulations relating to the sourcing of product and in doing so reduce the risk of only applicable in specific contexts, for medicinal plants, at national, EU and adulteration, thus directly addressing current instance where there is assured tenure of international levels, should include concerns over safety and efficacy.Best of all, collection areas, and are often not fully sustainability clauses, although as yet none do. perhaps, cultivated medicinal plants can be suitable either for developing, or developed guaranteed to come from a sustainable countries.The use of a generic ‘kite’ mark will Research and education source, especially if cultivated under an be of great help to consumers concerned There is a need for more research into how organic stewardship scheme, and therefore with making socially and environmentally best to achieve sustainable harvesting and to reduce pressure on the wild resource. ethical purchases. A generic certification stimulate cultivation.Alternatives to However,efforts should be made to system for medicinal plants is, however,a overexploited species need to be identified to encourage and support cultivation of herbs by small-scale farmers, used to stimulate employment opportunities for former collectors to avoid the loss of an important income source for rural communities across the world.
The unsustainable collection of liquorice Glycyrrhiza glabra threatens its long-term survival in Turkey and some other countries.
10 HERBAL HARVESTS WITH A FUTURE FURTHER READING USEFUL WEBSITES
Balick M.J., Sheldon J. and Laird S.A. (1997) www.rbgkew.org.uk/peopleplants People and Medicinal Plants: Can Utilisation and Plants is a partnership of WWF-UK and Conservation Coexist? Scientific Publications UNESCO designed to promote the Department,The New York Botanical sustainable use of plant resources, and the Gardens Bronx, New York USA. reconciliation of conservation and development, by focusing on the interface Behrens J. (2001) Herbalist perspective on between people and the world of plants. whether the utilisation of medicinal plants and conservation can co-exist? European www.herbalert.org.uk Herbalert is a Journal of Herbal MedicineVol 5. campaign, launched by the consumer charity The Natural Medicines Society,to provide Farnsworth N.R.,Arkerele O. and Bingel A.S. information to consumers about the herbal (1985) Potential Consequence on Plant Extinction products they buy and to steer them to in the States on the Current and Future reliable and comprehensive information on Availability of Prescription Drugs, Economy medicinal herbs and their use.The campaign Botany,39: 231-240. will also highlight the need for sustainable harvesting, to ensure long-term availability Lange D.(1998) Europe’s medicinal and and campaign to protect the consumers right Aromatic Plants,Their Use,Trade and to have access to high quality herbal products Conservation. TRAFFIC International, and treatment from qualified medical Cambridge, UK. herbalists.
WHO, IUCN & WWF (1993) Guidelines on the conservation of medicinal plants. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
Laird, S.A. (2002) Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge: Equitable Partnerships in Practice. WWF International, UNESCO and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Plantlife International – The Wild Plant Conservation Charity 14 Rollestone Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 1DX, UK Tel:+44 (0)1722 342730 Fax: +44 (0)1722 329035 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.plantlife.org.uk
To obtain further copies of this report please send payment of £6 (incl’ p&p) to: Plantlife Bookstore, Summerfield Books, Main Street, Brough nr Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, CA17 4AX Tel:01768 341577 Fax: 01768 341687
Plantlife International – The Wild Plant Conservation Charity is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered Charity Number: 1059559 Registered Company Number: 3166339 Cover by R Binder, Bavarian Research Centre for Agriculture ISBN: 1 904749 - 00 - 3 Photographs by Bob Gibbons/Natural Images, unless stated otherwise © January 2004 Design: Chris Jones, Design4Science Ltd