Collection and trade of wild-harvested orchids in Nepal

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Barbara Gravendeel²  Hugo J de Boer¹  Ram P Chaudhary⁴  Tinde van Andel²  Yuntao Dai³  Young Choi³  Bimal Kunwar⁴  Abishkar Subedi⁵ 

[1] Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18 D, SE-75236 Uppsala, Sweden;Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Sylviusweg 72, P.O. Box 9517, Leiden, The Netherlands;Institute Biology Leiden, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands;Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal;Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), P.O. Box 324, Pokhara, Nepal

关键词: Traditional medicine;    CITES;    Orchids;    DNA barcoding;    Commercialization;   

Others  :  862140
DOI  :  10.1186/1746-4269-9-64

 received in 2013-07-26, accepted in 2013-08-23,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Wild orchids are illegally harvested and traded in Nepal for use in local traditional medicine, horticulture, and international trade. This study aims to: 1) identify the diversity of species of wild orchids in trade in Nepal; 2) study the chain of commercialization from collector to client and/or export; 3) map traditional knowledge and medicinal use of orchids; and 4) integrate the collected data to propose a more sustainable approach to orchid conservation in Nepal.

Methods

Trade, species diversity, and traditional use of wild-harvested orchids were documented during field surveys of markets and through interviews. Trade volumes and approximate income were estimated based on surveys and current market prices. Orchid material samples were identified to species level using a combination of morphology and DNA barcoding.

Results

Orchid trade is a long tradition, and illegal export to China, India and Hong Kong is rife. Estimates show that 9.4 tons of wild orchids were illegally traded from the study sites during 2008/2009. A total of 60 species of wild orchids were reported to be used in traditional medicinal practices to cure at least 38 different ailments, including energizers, aphrodisiacs and treatments of burnt skin, fractured or dislocated bones, headaches, fever and wounds. DNA barcoding successfully identified orchid material to species level that remained sterile after culturing.

Conclusions

Collection of wild orchids was found to be widespread in Nepal, but illegal trade is threatening many species in the wild. Establishment of small-scale sustainable orchid breeding enterprises could be a valuable alternative for the production of medicinal orchids for local communities. Critically endangered species should be placed on CITES Appendix I to provide extra protection to those species. DNA barcoding is an effective method for species identification and monitoring of illegal cross-border trade.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Subedi et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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