Like all plants, animals, and rocks in a national park, it’s strictly illegal to remove ginseng from the area ( ow: Rangers recently recovered 700 illegally poached ginseng roots from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Uprooting the prized plant harms ecosystems and carries severe legal penalties, but staffing cuts make the crisis hard to stop. Rangers with the National Park Service (NPS) said in a September 30 statement that they recovered nearly 700 ginseng roots taken from Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP).
The rangers believe two individuals illegally poached the plants. The Park Service prohibits visitors from removing any plants, animals, or even rocks from NPS sites. A violation is punishable by a $5,000 fine or up to six months in prison.
The NPS said in its statement that it will replant some of the recovered roots, but noted that only about one-third may survive. Illegal harvesting of plants or animals is ecologically damaging, the park service noted. Animals rely on these plants for food, and removing them reduces genetic diversity in a plant population.
Wild ginseng has long been prized as a medicinal remedy, according to the Cleveland Clinic. People use the herb in teas and to treat ailments like indigestion. Department of Agriculture says demand for American ginseng is high, and its use is growing in other countries such as China.
Wild American ginseng is sometimes called “green gold,” and the West Virginia Division of Forestry writes that a dry pound can sell for more than $500. Harlan said this makes the plant a coveted commodity and vulnerable to illegal harvesting on public lands, including inside GSMNP. While some U.S. farmers raise ginseng, Harlan said the wild version is considered higher quality and therefore more valuable, fueling an underground market.
Forest Service reports that some have pulled back these permits in recent years because of unsustainable practices. Ginseng can take up to ten years to mature, and Harlan said its fragility requires strict regulations to protect the herb’s wild growth. Harlan said that although rangers are trained to spot illegal harvesting, significant staffing reductions at national parks over the past two years have left fewer people to find perpetrators.
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