Conservation impacts of commercial cultivation of endangered and overharvested plants

Abstract

Overharvesting is one of the greatest threats to species survival. Farming overharvested species is a conservation strategy that can meet growing market demand and conserve wild populations of the target species. This strategy is compatible with the international community's desire to uphold the right of local communities to use biological resources to support their livelihoods. However, studies investigating whether farming can alleviate poaching pressure have focused almost exclusively on animals. To address the shortfall in plant-focused studies, we compiled information on commercial cultivation of threatened plants to assess its conservation benefits. Because China's rising middle class has rapidly intensified demand for wildlife products, we searched the scientific literature published in Chinese (China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Baidu) and in English. We found 32 reports that contained data on 193 internationally or nationally threatened plant species that were under commercial cultivation. These reports showed that cultivations of 82% of the 193 species were sustained by collecting whole plants from the wild periodically or continuously. Although based on a small sample size, species that were maintained in cultivation only through artificial propagation or seeds collected in the wild were likely associated with a reported reduction in wild harvesting of whole plants. Even so, results of correlation analyses suggested that production system, scale, and when a species began being cultivated had little effect on conservation status of the species, either globally or in China. However, species brought into cultivation relatively recently and on a smaller scale were more likely to have undergone a reduction in collecting pressure. Farming of nonmedicinal plants was most problematic for species conservation because wild plants were laundered (i.e., sold as cultivated plants). For effective conservation, policy to guide cultivation operations based on the target species' biological characteristics, cultural significance, market demand, and conservation status is needed.

Precocious flowering of plants resulting from in vitro germination of Cycnoches haagii seeds on mycorrhizal fungi presence

“…In addition, the fragmentation of habitats, removal of key species critical to the continued existence of ecosystems, increased susceptibility to fire threats and pollinators decline are also documented to result in drastic losses in orchid populations and diversity (Sosa & Platas 1998, Coates & Dixon 2007. In this way, there is an urgent need for a differentiated policy to guide cultivation operations based on the biological characteristics, cultural significance, market demands and conservation status of the target species (Liu et al 2018).…”

Challenges in the Conservation of an Over-Harvested Plant Species with High Socioeconomic Values

“…Achieving sustainable use of high-value wild species is a global challenge [11]. In this study, we illustrate this challenge by examining the portfolio of government policies and measures related to the conservation and utilization of A. sinensis.…”

“…For example, the Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines for the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity [7]; Goal 8 in CBD-Biodiversity and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development [8]; and Strategic Goal B, Targets 7 and 18 in the Aichi Biodiversity Targets [9] are all about promoting sustainable use for assumed benefits for local livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. But data supporting or opposing the efficacy of these policies are scarce [10,11].…”

“…Plants constitute the vast majority of species facing over-harvesting [11] and, among them, harvesting for medicinal purposes represents the majority of uses [3,11]. Species in the genus Aquilaria, also known as agarwood or incense wood, are part of both Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine in South, Southeast and East Asian countries [12].…”

Promotion of in situ Forest Farmed American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) as a Sustainable Use Strategy: Opportunities and Challenges

“…It is often assumed that cultivation alone can alleviate wild harvesting pressure and help conserve species. However, a recent review found that there is limited evidence to validate this assumption with commercial cultivation only generating a conservation benefit for a handful of the 193 threatened species studied (Liu et al, 2019). This review found that cultivation operations may be motivated by market forces, but may be promoted by various NGOs, or government agencies if species conservation and social equalities are among the purposes of the cultivation operations.…”