Forest Club model projects and sites

Issue 15, Sept. 2000

"It has one more name - Ju-xin - due to its resemblance to human figure and appearance, others call it "devils' umbrella". It tastes sweet and cool, as it grows in mountains in the narrowest canyons. It cures five internal organs, it subdues arrogance and anger, it calms down and saves from the evil's eye, it makes spirit strong and endows with wisdom... When consuming it constantly, longevity will enter your body along with lightness..." These words were chosen by Yu.N. Zhuravlev and his co-author A.S Kolyada for the beginning of his book entitled "ARALIACEAE: ginseng and others". This is how legendary plant was described by an ancient Chinese sage. Root of Life. How many people were cured by it from fatal illnesses? How much blood was shed for it on vast taiga areas? Who has sent it to our sinful land: God or Satan?

Chinese gingseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is a rare plant, which belongs to the family ARALIACEAE and is well-known for its unique medical characteristics. It is on the verge of extinction because of its reputation. So what is done in the Primorsky region in order to prevent the plant from sharing the fate of Steller's sea-cow, giant aepyornis and other extinct species? That is what I want to tell you as an eye-witness.

At present the ginseng has practically vanished from forests of China and Korea, so the Primorsky (Maritime) region in Russia remains the only place in the world, where wild ginseng grows in quantities necessary for the species conservation. According to Yu.N. Zhuravlev (1997) major populations of ginseng are now found outside the boundaries of existing nature reserves.

The Decree of the Governor of the Primorsky region #511 from 15.10.98 "On Strategy of Biodiversity Conservation of Sikhote-Alin" stated that it was considered necessary to establish a Natural park "Ussurisky Ararat" on the territory of Chuguevsky and Kavalerovsky districts in order to provide protection and artificial reproduction of Chinese ginseng. Establishment of the same park was mentioned in another Decree of the Governor of the Primorsky region #550 from 30.12.98 "On approval of the Regional Task Complex Long-term Program on restoration (re-introduction) of maritime populations of ginseng for the period until 2005".

Total area of the proposed national park is 64100 ha, it is situated at the border of two districts of the Primorsky region: Chuguevsky and Kavalerovsky and between two rivers: the Antonovka and the Pavlovka (both of them are tributaries of the Ussury river).

Results of our four-year research indicated that the given area suited the purpose of establishing the Wild Ginseng Conservation Center, or to be more precise - its Sikhote-Alin population according to all features. The main problem, which arises when establishing the Natural park "Ussurisky Ararat", is that at the given moment it is impossible to provide necessary regime of protection, which will guarantee conservation of wild ginseng. Unemployment and high demand for roots of wild ginseng at the eastern markets provoke local population to poaching. The situation is worsened by the fact that many ginseng plants which had been grown at farmlands were transplanted into the forest. The transplantation can produce a significant effect on genofond of wild-growing population. It is done by local people, who hope that these transplanted specimens of ginseng will have morphological resemblance to the wild ginseng, so it can be easily sold at high prices to numerous buyers-up flooding the Russian Far East*.

I'd like to mention that the North American farmers gain annually more than 40 million US dollars from export of American ginseng to Asia. Russian state farms, which specialized in planting ginseng, went out of business**. It will be quite difficult to reanimate this agricultural sector, as there is a severe competition from the direction of China, Korea and North America. We still can find some ways to grow plants of better quality, which will be beyond comparison. All we have to do is to work out a mechanism of growing such plants which will not differ from the wild growing ginseng.

Results of our research conducted on the territory of the planned Natural park "Ussurisky Ararat" and analysis of numerous published scientific data allow to determine correctly forested sites with optimal conditions for the growth and development of Chinese ginseng. It is essential for carrying out measures aimed at restoration of the wild population and its planting under the forest canopy. The only thing which is necessary is to define accurately mechanisms of such activity. Ginseng grows in forests for a long time. A person who will be engaged in ginseng growing will have to have certain stability guarantees as well as all the rights to protect his property. Only on such terms he will put much effort and money into the business. As the experience shows, it is practically unreal in Russia. That is why only determined people, who have a disposition to engage in ventures, or public institutions can organize such business officially. For instance, such activity can be conducted by a National park.

I think that such activity can be organized the following way. Seedlings are grown in special nurseries (such nurseries have already been established), then they are planted out in the Nature park. It is necessary to provide protection of ginseng plantations. Such activity cannot be carried out in State nature reserves, as it conflicts with the main principle of noninterference with natural processes. It is difficult to carry out such activity in forestries or sanctuaries, as according to the existing legislation it is impossible to provide necessary protection. At the same time, such new institutions in our country as Natural or National parks can put this idea into practice. Special zones of strict protection where wild-growing ginseng plants are found can be organized within the parks as well as zones, where farm operations are conducted.

Hence, establishment of the Natural park "Ussurisky Ararat" will greatly contribute to conservation of the local population of wild-growing ginseng only on condition of carrying out a number of appropriate measures. Firstly, the measures should include operations aimed at growing ginseng, which has similarity of appearance to the wild-growing plants. It can be achieved through selection and special techniques of ginseng growing (i.e. growing plants under the forest canopy). Such products will be beyond any comparison at the world market of ginseng. Secondly, it is necessary to strengthen nature conservation measures. The period, when ripe fruit of ginseng are of bright red color, lasts not more than two months. The plants are especially well-noticeable during this period, so it is necessary to strengthen regime of protection then. At the same time it is necessary to co-ordinate nature conservation measures among governmental authorities functioning along the national borders in order to block channels of illegal export of wild-growing herbs and plants (Department "The Tiger" has already started such co-operation with the Primorsky customs officials). However, the most important thing is to arouse interest of local population in centralized growing of ginseng under the forest canopy. I will repeat once again, that such activity has been carried out by inhabitants of remote settlements***, but the work is conducted spontaneously and it does not take into account the fact that some wild-growing plants can be found nearby. This can seriously damage the genofond of the wild-growing population. If all mentioned factors are taken into consideration when organizing the given protection nature area, then the Primorsky region will become a monopolist on a product which has been in high demand in the most densely populated country of the world " China for more than 2000 years.