Journal of Threatened Taxa |
www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 January 2022 | 14(1): 20530–20533
ISSN 0974-7907
(Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.6831.14.1.20530-20533
#6831 | Received 25
October 2020 | Final received 06 May 2021 | Finally accepted 04 January 2022
Counting the cost: high demand
puts Bunium persicum
(Boiss.) B.Fedtsch. in
jeopardy
Monika Sharma 1,
Manisha Mathela 2, Rupali Sharma 3,
Himanshu Bargali 4, Gurinderjit
S. Goraya 5
& Amit Kumar 6
1–6 Wildlife Institute of India,
Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248002, India.
1 monika.iirs@gmail.com, 2 manishamathela@gmail.com,
3 rupalisharma060@gmail.com, 4 himanshubargali@rediffmail.com,
5 gurinder9@hotmail.com, 6 amit@wii.gov.in
(corresponding author)
Editor: Anonymity
requested. Date of publication:
26 January 2022 (online & print)
Citation: Sharma, M., M. Mathela, R. Sharma, H. Bargali,
G.S. Goraya & A. Kumar (2022). Counting the cost: high demand
puts Bunium persicum
(Boiss.) B.Fedtsch. in
jeopardy. Journal of
Threatened Taxa 14(1): 20530–20533. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.6831.14.1.20530-20533
Copyright: © Sharma et al. 2022. Creative Commons Attribution
4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Competing interests: The authors
declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank
the Director and Dean, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun for institutional
support. We wish to acknowledge the United Nations Development Programme and
Global Environment Facility for
funding, Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change, Government of
India, Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, and Drs.
G.S. Rawat, A.K. Gupta for constant support, guidance, and encouragements.
The mighty Himalaya has been
identified as one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots due to its immense hoard of
endemic species as well as the ever-increasing threats looming upon this region
(Mittermier et al. 2004). The highly adapted
and fragile ecosystems are rich in biodiversity, of which vegetation forms an
important component. The stretch of Himalaya that constitutes the Indian
Himalayan region (IHR) harbours ca. 11,157
species of flowering plants belonging to 2,359 genera under 241 families (Singh
et al. 2019). IHR, an abode to various medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs)
accounts for >1,748 species of medicinal plants (23.4% of India) comprising
1,685 species of angiosperms, 12 gymnosperms, and 51 pteridophytes that have
traditional and modern therapeutic uses (Samant et
al. 1998). Owing to their high medicinal value, most of MAPs are at high demand
and hence face immense pressure that has led to a decline in their wild
populations, for instance Goraya & Ved (2017) enlisted 36 Himalayan medicinal plant taxa that
are in high commercial demand by the herbal industries.
In the western Himalaya, the
relative isolation and remoteness of high-altitude regions have made the ethnic
communities the last bastions of traditional medicinal knowledge. MAPs serve as
one of the major sources of subsistence and income generation for local
communities and have found use in many culinary and medicinal practices since
time immemorial. These ethnic communities inhabiting harsh environmental
conditions practice unique traditions and customs including ethno-botanical
dependence, thus, hold substantial ethno-botanical knowledge due to the regular
use of medicinal plants for treatment of diseases, wounds, fractures, and other
ailments (Samant et al. 1998; Samant
& Palni 2000). The local traditional healers
known as ‘Larjee’ or ‘Amchi’
practice traditional health care systems such as the Tibetan system of
medicine (Sowa-Rigpa) for the treatment of various
ailments based on their traditional knowledge.
With the rising growth in the
demand and market of herbal medicines, the herbs-based healthcare wellness
sector across the world including India is booming. This in turn has resulted
in higher demand and thus puts higher pressure on the medicinal plant
resources, both wild and cultivated (Goraya & Ved 2017). Unfortunately, due to the absence of sustainable
harvesting and collection protocols, and cultivation tools and techniques, the
MAPs are harvested indiscriminately (Kumar et al. 2021). In some cases, though
there are no locally known uses of the MAPs, they are harvested unsustainably,
solely to be sold in the market, the trade of which serves as a lucrative
source of income for the plant collectors (Dorji
2016; Mathela et al. 2020). Hence, the heavy and
increased demand on high value MAPs in the wild, coupled with destructive
harvesting and competitive wild collection has resulted in the rapid decline of
the wild populations (Goraya & Ved 2017). The market prices at which these MAPs are sold
can easily paint a picture of the demand, for instance, Fritillaria cirrhosa D.Don (Jangli lehsun) sells at
12,000–15,000 INR kg-1, Aconitum heterophyllum
Wall. ex Royle (Kaur) 3,000–4,000 INR kg-1,
Pichrorhiza kurroa
Royle ex. Benth (Kadu) 900–1,500 INR kg-1, and Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D.Don) Soó (Hathajadi) 2,200–6,000 INR kg-1 (Mathela et al. 2020; Mathela et
al. 2021; Kumar et al. 2021). Due to the extremely high demand, increased
illegal trade, destructive wild collection and dwindling populations, these
MAPs are threatened and many are on the brink of extinction from the wild (Goraya & Ved 2017; Mathela et al. 2020). The unorganized and illegal trade is
increasing day by day in the western Himalayan region in spite of strict government instructions on the trade
and transportation.
Noticeably, in the recent decade,
there have been several reports of medicinal species being reported in peril in
the western Himalaya, such as well-known insect fungus Ophiocordyceps
sinensis (Berk.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung,
Hywel-Jones & Spatafora commonly called ‘Keerajadi’ and ‘Yartsagunba’
with multiple medicinal uses, which received high attention in terms of
increased trade, excessive harvesting, and dependency of local communities,
especially in Uttarakhand (India), Nepal, and China. The increasing
exploitation has led to rising pressure on the species leading to decrease in
the wild population (Yadav et al. 2019). Similarly, the population of Nardostachys jatamansi (D.Don) DC. has declined by 60–80% in the wild from IHR,
hence categorized as endangered in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, & Himachal
Pradesh and critically endangered in Uttarakhand as per CITES. Another species
with high market demand and dwindling wild population is Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D.Don (Nagchatri) native to the western Himalaya. Another species
worth mentioning is Dactylorhiza hatagirea commonly known as ‘Salampanja’
or ‘Hathajadi’, which is in high medicinal
demand in national and international
markets. The annual demand of Salampanja has
been recorded at ca. 5,000 tons (Bhatt et al. 2005). The regeneration capacity
of this orchid is rather poor due to pollinator specificity and requirement of
mycorrhizal association, therefore, over-extraction from the wild poses a
serious threat (Pant et al. 2012).
Keeping the
sudden spurt in price and high demand of yet another highly threatened MAP Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B.Fedtsch. commonly known
as ‘Kalazeera’ or black cumin of Himachal Pradesh in
view, the current communication attempts to raise high conservation concern to
preserve the species in the wild (Images 1–4). Based on intensive market
surveys and individual interactions with the local populace and traders
comprising 255 respondents in the Lahaul and Pangi landscape of Himachal Pradesh covering 12 villages,
namely, Sural Bhatori, Hundan
Bhatori, Chasak Bhatori, Killar, Punto, Mindhal, Sechu, Ghisal, Kuthal, Sach, Dharwas & Karyas of Pangi and five
villages, namely, Khanjar, Udaipur, Urgos, Tindi, & Thanpattan of Lahaul; the predominant factors that pose a major threat to
the wild populations of the species include high market demand, increased
illegal trade, destructive harvesting, relentless collection of seeds,
competitive wild collection and its restricted population. Due to high medicinal
and aromatic properties, the species is facing tremendous population decline
from the wild and has been reported to sell like hot cakes in the markets. The
species also faces identity crisis as it is often mistaken with Carum bulbocastanum
(L.) W.D.J.Koch or Carum
carvi L. Also, it is often adulterated with Cuminum cyminum L.
(Bansal et al. 2018). Additionally, according to Sofi et al. (2009), low
productivity mainly due to the poor crop management practices, inadequate
planting density, high weed incidence, diseases, insect damage, low germination
percentage of seeds, uncertain quality and lack of trade standards are the
other issues responsible for its vulnerability in the Himalayan region.
Globally, Kalazeera
is distributed in Baluchistan, Afghanistan, and India. In India, it is
distributed in Kashmir and the high-altitude regions of Himachal Pradesh
including the Padder valley, Chamba,
Kinnaur, Lahaul, Pangi, and Spiti at elevations
ranging between 1,500–3,500 m (Chauhan 1999; Gupta et al. 2012; Ravikumar et
al. 2018). It grows mainly in grassy slopes and low alpine pastoral lands (Sofi
et al. 2009). As a whole plant, it is an economically important culinary crop
that is cultivated for its seed which matures in the months of late July to
August (Chauhan 1999). The seeds are darkish-brown, ribbed with pointed ends
and have a deep aroma (Image 2). B. persicum has
been kept under red-listed Himalayan forest species and is listed amongst the
100 species of conservation concern in commercial demand for use as a herbal
raw drug in India (Goraya & Ved
2017). Interestingly, it is also among the few wild species in the western
Himalaya which has been recommended for commercial cultivation (Singh et al.
2009). This species with considerable knowledge and literature on its usage, is
harvested and traded extensively in Himachal Pradesh. Owing to low volume, high
value, and as a non-perishable commodity, it is one the most preferred species
for indigenous use and trade in Lahaul and Pangi valley (Singh et al. 2009). The species has diuretic,
digestive, anticonvulsive, and anthelmintic effects (Stappen
et al. 2017). Owing to these properties, the plant finds use in several
medicinal, culinary, and aromatic practices (Sofi et al. 2009), the seeds are
widely used as a food additive, tea making condiment and a popular spice and
flavoring agent. Due to its therapeutic effect on digestive and urinary tract
disorders, it is used for chronic cholangitis and kidney stone, and is useful
in treating diabetes (Hassanzadazar et al. 2018),
diarrhea, dyspepsia, curing fever, flatulence, stomach-ache, haemorrhoids, and obstinate hiccups (Chauhan 1999). B. persicum has been traditionally used as an appetizer,
to reduce cholesterol, anxiety, depression, to alleviate indigestion, bronchitis,
diseases of blood & ear, leprosy, convulsions, foul breath, joint pain,
lumbago, and weak memory (Singh et al. 2009).
Kalazeera is facing enormous threats not
only due to the illegal trade and unscientific harvesting it is subjected to,
but also due to loss of its habitats, featuring unique topography and climatic
conditions, due to development and degradation resulting in drastic decline in
the wild populations (Kala 2000; Goraya & Ved 2017). According to Chauhan (1999), the market price of
Kalazeera was 300–400 INR kg-1 in the
state of Himachal Pradesh, whereas the report of 2,200–4,200 INR kg-1 as
per Kumar et al. (2021) indicates that the price has increased 10 fold in the
last 20 years. According to Goraya & Ved (2017), the estimated annual trade of Kalazeera in Himachal Pradesh was <10 metric tonne (MT). The Himachal Pradesh State forest department
issues permits for regulating the collection of medicinal plants, however, the
illegal trade in terms of hidden markets is posing a threat to the species.
Therefore, it is submitted that competitive collection, increased illegal trade
may inevitably lead to the decline in wild populations of B. persicum in the near future if appropriate conservation
and mitigation measures are not taken. The species, therefore, requires urgent
management interventions for its conservation, sustainable availability to the
herbal sector, and continuous cash income to thousands of wild gatherers.
Further, the species can be put in ‘Action Lists’ for proactive action towards its
conservation, building of their wild population and developing sustainable
harvesting practices as envisaged by Goraya & Ved (2017). The first step towards its conservation is
identifying the existing population base, species distribution and abundance, therefore
it becomes important to conduct such studies on an urgent basis. Identification
of best cultivation practices, research, and development to reduce
long-gestation periods, cost effective technology, organic-farming, buy-back
mechanisms, policy-revision in the interest of stakeholders, protocols for
post-cultivation management, quality-control and awareness training would be
the practical solution in this direction. Recently, the species has been
granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Government of Himachal
Pradesh. This is an important step towards conserving this plant and
plant-based products and can further improve its market potential, boosting the
region’s economy by giving better returns at the grassroot levels.
Additionally, a major step towards species conservation can be the
strengthening of the Biodiversity Management Committee and spreading awareness
on the dwindling populations among the various stakeholders. Identifying and
building the capacities of stakeholders including respective forest department,
locals, traditional healers, and local plant traders can help in community
based natural resource management.
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