American ginseng: non-detriment findings
Published October 2007 - Revised 17-02-2014
American ginseng is on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II. CITES export permits are required for whole and sliced roots and parts of roots.
Table of contents
Summary of finding:
Export of wild American ginseng roots is considered detrimental Footnote1.
- American ginseng is widely distributed in eastern North America but its occurrence is infrequent and fragmented throughout its range. In Canada, abundance is low; only 49 of 418 recorded populations are viable, and the population trend is declining. At least 369 of the 418 populations are either extirpated, not viable, or have declined.
- American ginseng is listed as endangered at the federal level under the Species at Risk Act and is therefore afforded protection on federal land. It is listed as endangered under Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007 , which prohibits wild harvest and trade as well as cultivation, harvest and trade of wild-simulated and woods-grown American ginseng. In Quebec, under the Loi sur les espèces menacées ou vulnérable , it is listed as threatened, which prohibits wild harvest and trade. These are the highest levels of risk in both provinces.
- Management plans to protect wild populations in Quebec are under development to comply with the Loi sur les espèces menacées ou vulnérables . Forestry management directives have been developed in Ontario to provide protection during forestry activities.
- Prevention of wild harvest is highly problematic due to ease of site access and need for continuous monitoring. Eliminating the threat of harvest to survival of ginseng in the wild is problematic due to greater market demand and value for both wild ginseng and ginseng produced to have wild ginseng characteristics, and because it is difficult to distinguish between them.
- The threat of harvest exists due to commercial trade. Four types of ginseng are recognized in Canada: wild, wild-simulated, woods-grown and cultivated/field-cultivated. Based on export trade data from Statistics Canada and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), demand for cultivated and wild ginseng remains high and it is expected that current export levels will continue. The monetary value of wild ginseng continues to be high and much higher than cultivated (particularly at retail)
- Wild exports have been prohibited from Canada since 1989. Wild harvest and export is permitted in the United States of America (USA) (90,600 Kilograms (kg) United States Dollar(s) (USD) 36,291,000 reported on export in 2009 Footnote2, an estimated 41,494,800 roots). Canadian export trade is primarily in field-cultivated roots (2.67 million kg, Canadian Dollar (CAD) 70,219,771 in 2008) Footnote3.
- Although the current and actual extent of wild harvest and trade is unknown, trade in wild ginseng is considered unsustainable largely based on the biological characteristics of the species (slow-growing, high seed mortality, low seedling establishment, mature woodland habitat), in addition to the low abundance of the species, declining population trends, as well as difficulties associated with protection and conservation.
Summary of trade aspects for wild and produced American ginseng
Non-detriment findings for wild simulated or woods-grown Panax quinquefolius produced outside of Ontario and Quebec will be made upon consideration of relevant provincial/territorial regulations and/or policy.
Wild American ginseng
Ontario harvest and provincial trade:
Harvest is illegal Footnote4 and it is illegal to possess, buy, sell, lease or trade within Ontario or to export from Ontario unless the material originated outside Ontario and was lawfully obtained from that jurisdiction.
Quebec harvest and provincial trade:
Harvest is illegal Footnote5 and it is illegal to possess or to trade within Quebec or to export from Quebec regardless of origin.
International trade:
CITES export permits are not issued in Canada for wild ginseng from Canada as export is considered detrimental to the survival of the species.
Produced American ginseng
Wild-simulated footnote6
Ontario provincial trade:
It is illegal to possess, buy, sell, lease or trade within Ontario or to export from Ontario unless the material originated outside Ontario and was lawfully obtained from that jurisdiction.
Quebec provincial trade:
It is illegal to trade in Quebec or to export from Quebec if production methods involve use of wild material (seeds for example).
International trade:
Non-detriment findings are determined on case by case basis upon consideration of production methods and provincial policy.
Woods-grown footnote7
Ontario provincial trade:
It is illegal to possess buy, sell, lease or trade within Ontario or to export from Ontario unless the material originated outside Ontario and was lawfully obtained from that jurisdiction.
Quebec provincial trade:
It is legal to trade within Quebec and to export from Quebec if production methods do not involve use of wild material.
International trade:
Non-detriment findings are determined on case by case basis upon consideration of production methods and provincial policy.
Cultivated/field-cultivated footnote8
Ontario provincial trade:
It is legal to trade within provinces and to export from provinces within Canada, if cultivated in accordance with Subsection 2(1) of Regulation 242/08 made under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (Ontario).
Quebec provincial trade:
It is legal to trade within provinces and to export from provinces within Canada.
International trade:
CITES export permits are issued as export is considered non-detrimental to the survival of the species. For Ontario, special conditions mentioned above apply.
Supporting information:
Harvest regime:
Four ginseng types are recognized in Canada: wild, wild-simulated, woods-grown, and field-cultivated. Data are largely unavailable for the first three ginseng types, with limited monitoring of wild harvest and limited reporting of production. Trade data on ginseng constitute cultivated exports from Canada and the USA as well as wild exports from the USA. Based on 1998-2008 data from Statistics Canada and 2004-2009 data from the USDA, export of both cultivated ginseng (e.g., 2.67 million kg from Canada in 2008; 284,000 kg from USA in 2009) and wild ginseng (e.g., 90,600 kg or about 41 million roots from USA - includes wild-simulated and woods-grown roots) remains high and is expected to continue. The majority of ginseng is exported to China and Hong Kong. From 2004 to 2009 the value of wild American ginseng exported from the United States rose from USD 149.00 to USD 400.56 per kilogram. Prices are higher at retail. A single root could retail for thousands of dollars, depending on its characteristics such as size and shape.
Biological characteristics:
American ginseng is sensitive to the impact of harvest. It is a slow-growing plant of mature woodlands, producing seeds only after several years. These seeds are passively dispersed and remain dormant for long periods of time. Seed predation is high and seedling establishment is low.
Status:
American ginseng is nationally endangered ( Species at Risk Act ), endangered in Ontario (highest risk category, Endangered Species Act, 2007 ), and threatened in Quebec (highest risk category, Loi sur les espèces menacées ou vulnérables ). Major and severe threats to the species are loss of habitat (mainly due to incidental forest operations) and harvest. It is of low abundance in Canada and only 49 populations are considered viable. Based on quantitative data, at least 369 of the 418 populations on record in Canada are either extirpated, not viable, or have declined. Harvest is considered a severe threat based on the biological characteristics of the species, declining populations, as well as field observations of eradicated and reduced populations. Computer simulations using data from wild populations also show low and unrealistic rates of sustainable harvest.
Harvest management:
The prohibition on exporting wild roots from Canada, on collection and trade of wild roots in Quebec (February 2001), and on collection of wild roots or planting and harvesting of wild-simulated and woods-grown American ginseng in Ontario (June 2008) are major components of the current management regime.The effectiveness of these prohibitions is unknown and depends heavily on enforcement.
Of note, roots of wild ginseng from certain Quebec populations are treated with colorant to decrease their market value.
Control of harvest:
The ability to control illegal harvest is unknown. Control of illegal harvest is difficult given the ease of access to ginseng sites and the need for continuous monitoring.
Harvest trend:
The harvest trend for wild populations is unknown due to limited monitoring. Export volumes and value for cultivated American ginseng in Canada and both cultivated and wild-harvested in US have fluctuated over the years, but nonetheless remain relatively high. The market value of wild American ginseng, in particular, continues to rise. The statistics do not reflect retail value of wild roots nor market trends in illegally traded wild roots.
Harvest monitoring:
Direct population estimates are used to monitor the effects of harvest (plant counts). Baseline data are available (1988). Monitoring has occurred as a result of status reports (1998, 1999) and of research projects. However, accurately documenting illegal harvest is very difficult given the need for high monitoring frequency.
Incentives and benefits of harvest:
Conserving the plant is of interest to all stakeholders; however, the popularity and high profit associated with wild roots is an incentive for illegal or unsustainable wild harvest.
Protection from harvest:
Legal protection is established on federal lands and provincially in Quebec and Ontario applying to all of the populations in Canada. Under Ontario's Endangered Species Act , by 2013 American ginseng will also fall under the habitat protection provision of that law. Evidence shows illegal harvest continues in Ontario. Preventing illegal wild harvest is difficult given ease of access and the need for continuous monitoring.
Jurisdictional break-down:
Ontario, Quebec.
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