Conservation salvage of Cordyceps sinensis collection in the Himalayan mountains is neglected

Abstract

Traditional agriculture and animal rearing are central in the rural livelihood of Himalayan Mountains. Economically these activities are inadequate for fulfilling the better livelihood expectation. Therefore rural people depend on diverse short seasonal activities like collection of medicinal plants, timber trading and animals poaching etc. for obtaining economic benefits. In past few years, collection of Cordyceps sinensis in the Himalayan Mountains has been emerged as main short seasonal activity. This practice is more profitable as compared to the cultivation of key cash crops and some other activities. Because of attractive economic benefits, nearly 52.08 to 97.98% households of this region are involved in the short seasonal collection of C. sinensis. Development of C. sinensis in the Himalayan Mountains and economic benefit earned from its collection is valuable ecosystem service. Uncontrolled collection of C. sinensis will be critical for its sustainability. Hence rotational pattern for collecting C. sinensis will be useful for its long-term availability. Because of the shift in short seasonal activities of poor communities, collection of C. sinensis may be helping in conservation of globally significant medicinal plants (GSMPs), timber yielding trees and wild animals. However, impacts of this short seasonal activity on the population recovery of GSMPs, timber trees and wild animals need to be studied at habitat level. Economic benefits earned from short seasonal collection of C. sinensis and cultivation of key cash crops, suggestion for sustainable collection of C. sinensis, possible impacts after deviation from this practice and indirect salvage of this short seasonal activity for the conservation of other resources is discussed in this communication.