Effects of Commercial Harvesting on Population Characteristics and Rhizome Yield of Anemone altaica

Abstract

Effects of Commercial Harvesting on Population Characteristics and Rhizome Yield of Anemone altaica. Commercial harvesting constitutes a direct threat to numerous non–timber forest products (NTFPs), but its ecological effects have not been well documented. Anemone altaica Fisch. ex C. A. Mey, a spring ephemeral plant found in temperate forests of Eurasia, is a traditional Chinese herb. Owing to medicinal value, its rhizomes have been harvested for commercial purposes in northwestern China for many years. This paper addresses the ecological effects of commercial harvesting on A. altaica populations under different harvest intensities. The results show that size–selective harvesting of rhizomes can increase population densities by asexual propagation. Currently, two– to three–year–old individuals derived from asexual propagation are the main targets of commercial harvesting. The increased demand in recent years has resulted in earlier and more intensive harvesting activities largely impacting the natural recovery of the harvested populations. For sustainable use of this traditional medicinal species, we recommend that a periodic harvest strategy of three to four years be adopted.