The U.S. Forest Service is pausing ginseng harvesting in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests this year to help restore the declining wild ginseng population. The forests are located near East Tennessee, on the North Carolina side.
Ginseng hunting season usually starts now, but no permits will be issued for the rest of the year due to the plant’s scarcity. Ginseng takes a long time to mature, making overharvesting a serious issue. It takes around two years for a ginseng seed to germinate and another decade before a crop of it can be harvested.
The Forest Service is partnering with the Mountain Horticulture and Research Center to grow more ginseng.
Removing ginseng from these forests during the pause could result in fines up to $5,000 and six months in prison.
