Tracing the Supply Chain of Medicinal Wild Yam Species (Dioscorea spp.) in Cundinamarca, Colombia

Abstract

Tracing the Supply Chain of Medicinal Wild Yam Species (Dioscoreaspp.) in Cundinamarca, Colombia. Wild yams (Dioscorea spp.) are widely distributed non-timber forest products that are traditionally used as medicine in Cundinamarca, Colombia, and represent a source of income for rural families in the region. The market for these native medicinal species has been growing due to their increasing popularity as a remedy for circulatory and blood problems; however, the supply and demand dynamics of this plant in the forest have not yet been documented. Through qualitative research methods, this study identifies the links and distribution of the wild yam supply chain in Cundinamarca and considers the implications for conservation and sustainability of the resource. Tuber collection was documented in forested areas in 14 municipalities in the Department of Cundinamarca. The tubers are destined for wholesale markets in Bogotá and are purchased by retailers from all over Cundinamarca, even those based in the municipalities from which the tubers were extracted. The collection, distribution, and consumption of Dioscorea species in Cundinamarca respond to growing demand and rely on extraction of the species directly from forest remnants within the Department; these could be at risk of overharvesting if management measures are not taken, or if participatory propagation programs that benefit harvesters and sellers are not implemented. This is the first study of the supply chain in an emerging new market for wild yams in Latin America. It highlights the dynamic, evolving nature of the medicinal plant trade from the local to the national scale, and beyond.