Ginseng gives surprising boost to state's agricultural economy
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
University Park, Pa. -- When most people look at a forest,
they see only trees. Not Eric Burkhart. When this researcher
in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences looks
at a forest, he also sees non-timber forest products
or NTFPs. Burkhart, a Beaver County native with degrees
in botany and horticulture, presently is studying the
"king" of Pennsylvania NTFPs -- American ginseng.
"It may surprise you to learn," says the doctoral
candidate in the School of Forest Resources, "that
the commonwealth's heritage of ginseng collection, cultivation
and husbandry, although perhaps less widely recognized,
is every bit as rich as that found in Appalachian states
like West Virginia and Kentucky."
In recent years, between 1,700 and 4,200 pounds of
dry ginseng root have been exported annually from Pennsylvania
-- mostly to Asian markets -- according to state Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources estimates. At
an average price of $300 per dry pound, ginseng has
generated at least $11 million for Pennsylvanians over
the past decade, according to Burkhart's calculations.
And yet, very little is known about ginseng collection,
cultivation and husbandry in the commonwealth.
While many agree the valuable plant is less common
in Pennsylvania forests than it used to be, the question
is how to conserve the species while allowing Pennsylvanians
access to the resource.
"Ginseng is one of our most valuable resources,
but it has largely been under the radar for hundreds
of years," Burkhart says. "We don't have any
idea what people are up to. We aren't sure if the plant
is being over collected from our forests, how much cultivation
and husbandry is occurring, and if wild Pennsylvania
strains are being negatively impacted through interbreeding
with ginseng from other regions of the eastern United
States planted on forestlands.
"We can't manage ginseng as a valuable, renewable,
sustainable resource until we know more about its status
in Pennsylvania," he adds. "We are trying
to develop and share information as well as raise public
awareness about ginseng as a native forest resource.
We are telling people that if they own forestland, they
might want to manage for it. The encouragement of ginseng
on private lands represents a unique opportunity for
forest landowners to both conserve a native species
and develop income, while forests might also be managed
for other values such as timber and recreation."
Most of the world's commercial ginseng comes from three-
to four-year-old plants grown in Wisconsin, Minnesota
and Ontario, Canada, under artificial shade in field
beds. Burkhart knows of no such cultivation efforts
in Pennsylvania, although various forms of cultivation
and husbandry on forestlands are occurring. Plants grown
in the forest produce roots with distinctive qualities,
bringing much higher prices than field-grown roots.
This strong market for forest-grown root presents unique
husbandry opportunities throughout the eastern United
States -- where the plant is native -- and these activities
appear to have a long history in the commonwealth.
Known in much of the northern tier of Pennsylvania
as "shang" and in the southern regions of
Pennsylvania as "sang," ginseng for a time
during the early history of Pennsylvania was more valuable
than paper money in frontier regions. It was one of
the first major exports from North America, Burkhart
points out.
"Ginseng has deep roots in Pennsylvania,"
he says, pausing to chuckle at his pun. "I have
been pleasantly surprised by the depth of caring and
interest in ginseng around the state, especially amongst
the older generations who have a strong personal relationship
with the species. Many people these days seem to look
at it as a hobby, and are more inclined to act as stewards
than as reckless exploiters that some would make them
out to be."
Although ginseng is perhaps best known to Americans
as an aphrodisiac and energy herb, most scientists now
recognize the plant has broader applications as an "adaptogen"
or "tonic" herb.
"Asian cultures particularly believe it helps
the body regulate and improve energy level, metabolism,
circulation, blood pressure and mental functioning,"
Burkhart explains. "They believe ginseng has a
profound impact on the organism as a whole and have
employed its cousin, Asian ginseng, for this purpose
for thousands of years."
There are many impediments to gathering information
about ginseng in the commonwealth, however, since many
people who collect the roots and sell them are concerned
about possible future taxation of their industry, disclosure
of personal collection areas and governmental interference
through regulation.
"While I understand and am sensitive to these
concerns," Burkhart says, "I am trying to
get Pennsylvanians who are involved with ginseng to
participate in efforts to develop accurate information
about the species, so that we can establish management
programs that are sensitive to both the species and
those who are involved with it. Without public participation,
this will be difficult to accomplish."
As part of his research, for which he and colleague
Michael Jacobson, assistant professor of forest resources,
recently received a $33,000 Wild Resource Conservation
Grant from the state DCNR, Burkhart is collecting data
from more than 100 research plots around the state where
ginseng plants are growing in various types of forested
habitats. He and Jacobson also developed a survey that
is being used to gather public comment and information
on ginseng, coupling this effort with regional meetings
and workshops to facilitate interaction between various
stakeholders.
State law forbids ginseng collection on state game
lands and in state parks. On private property, ginseng
may be collected without a permit by permission of the
landowner. In state forests and the Allegheny National
Forest, ginseng may be collected only with a permit,
and in some years, permits aren't issued.
"We don't have a good handle on ginseng collection
from forestlands, whether with permission or by poaching,
and we probably never will," Burkhart admits. "Developing
relationships with people around the state who are involved
with ginseng and using these folks as sources of accurate,
on-the-ground information is likely to be more effective
than regulation at keeping track of regional trends
and encouraging good stewardship."
Burkhart stresses that his goals are to develop information
about ginseng and what he dubs "ginseng culture"
(those who have a relationship with ginseng in Pennsylvania),
to encourage and facilitate the development of a forest
ginseng industry while at the same time promoting conservation
of the species. If you are involved with ginseng as
a collector, grower or admirer and wish to participate
in the research, contact Burkhart at (814) 863-0401
or by e-mail at epb6@psu.edu. He hopes to use the DCNR
ginseng Web site at
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/wildplant/ginseng.aspx
as a resource for interaction with Pennsylvanians.
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