The US Forest Service has announced that due to decreasing populations of wild ginseng the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests will not issue permits for American ginseng harvesting this year.
The declines are attributed to long-term harvesting, more recent over harvesting, out-of-season harvest, and the taking of mature plants without planting the seed for future crops.
Adding to the problem is the fact that ginseng is a very slow growing plant, and can take as much as 11 years for a plot to fully recover after harvest.
“Every year we’ve seen fewer ginseng plants and the danger is that they’ll completely disappear from this area,” said Gary Kauffman, botanist for the National Forests in North Carolina. “We need to pause the harvest now to help ensure that these plants will be available in future years and for our grandkids and their kids.” Kauffman monitors plant levels and has worked with other organizations to reintroduce ginseng into the forest where the plant has been overharvested.
Anyone removing wild ginseng plants or their parts on national forest lands without a permit may be fined up to $5,000 or a six-month sentence in federal prison, or both.
