The knotty politics of ginseng conservation and management in Appalachia

Justine Law

doi:10.2458/jpe.2286

Abstract

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a long-lived understory species in Appalachian forests and the most valuable medicinal plant in North America. Indeed, "digging" for ginseng roots is an important livelihood strategy throughout Appalachia. Increasingly, however, concern for ginseng populations is escalating, and state and federal policies have introduced new harvesting restrictions, as well as new law enforcement efforts that target ginseng diggers. Here I am interested in troubling the high-profile narrative that ginseng populations are crashing due to the unscrupulous practices of Appalachian diggers. I draw on ecological research, historical documents, and my own ethnographic fieldwork to argue that we need a fuller understanding of both ginseng population demographics and the potential causes for ginseng decline before we embrace a narrative that disenfranchises those who depend on and, in many cases, have helped steward this enigmatic plant. This research speaks to growing tensions between rural livelihoods and conservation efforts worldwide.

Highlights

Endemic to eastern North America, wild American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) presents a fascinating case study of human-plant interactions
Still, harvesting has continued, and, even today, in an era when American exports are much lower than they were at their peak in the late 19th century, ginseng digging remains a significant livelihood strategy in Appalachian communities
Barron and Emery (2012: 1007) conclude that morel mushroom hunters in the Pacific Northwest have sophisticated local ecological knowledge and are "invested in and would work toward creating effective management strategies aimed at resource sustainability", despite being "frustrated by the regulation of an activity they have been engaging in for generations." Hufford explicitly ties human-ginseng interactions to the maintenance of robust commons in Appalachia: "On Coal River, knowledge and appreciation of the forested commons is fostered by sustained engagement, not detached viewing...among the means of keeping the commons alive is talk about ginseng: where to hunt it, its mysterious habits, the biggest specimens ever found, and the difficulties of wresting the treasure from an impossible steep terrain" (2002: 114)

Summary

Introduction

Endemic to eastern North America, wild American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) presents a fascinating case study of human-plant interactions. By 1880-1889, America were shipping nearly 7 million tons (7.1m metric tonnes) of ginseng to East Asia, and ginseng digging on the de facto forest commons had become an important source of income for Appalachian families (Carlson 1986) These mushrooming ginseng exports, prompted speculation about the impact of harvesting on ginseng populations and, eventually, led to the its regulation. Barron and Emery (2012: 1007) conclude that morel mushroom hunters in the Pacific Northwest have sophisticated local ecological knowledge and are "invested in and would work toward creating effective management strategies aimed at resource sustainability", despite being "frustrated by the regulation of an activity they have been engaging in for generations." Hufford explicitly ties human-ginseng interactions to the maintenance of robust commons in Appalachia: "On Coal River, knowledge and appreciation of the forested commons is fostered by sustained engagement, not detached viewing...among the means of keeping the commons alive is talk about ginseng: where to hunt it, its mysterious habits, the biggest specimens ever found, and the difficulties of wresting the treasure from an impossible steep terrain" (2002: 114). I conclude with suggestions for the conservation and management of ginseng in Appalachia

Background

Methods

The normal narrative around ginseng management

A Ginseng counternarrative

Findings

Conclusions