Steps towards sustainable harvest of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Bhutan

Cannon, P. F.; Hywel‐Jones, Nigel L.; Maczey, Norbert; Norbu, Lam; Tshitila,; Samdup, Tashi; Lhendup, Phurba

doi:10.1007/s10531-009-9587-5

Cited by 89 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…To prevent overexploitation of resource, the collection rules were revised within short intervals. Until 2007, only one person from a household was allowed to collect Cordyceps, however, in 2008, the revised rule allowed all members from a household to collect (Cannon et al 2009;Gould 2007;Wangchuk 2008). From 2009 to date, a new rule was enforced, allowing only three persons from each household to collect.…”

Section: Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To date, empirical studies on Cordyceps have focused mainly on the medicinal properties (Boesi and Cardi 2009;Miller 2009;Panda and Swain 2011), sustainable management (Cannon et al 2009;Tenzin 2009;Wangmo and Wangchuk 2008) and impacts on livelihood and environment (Wangchuk et al 2012). A study investigating the effects of legalization of Cordyceps collection on yak farming practices was therefore needed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mountain pastoralism in transition: Consequences of legalizing Cordyceps collection on yak farming practices in Bhutan

Wangchuk

Wangdi

2015

Pastoralism

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Yak farming is the main livelihood source for the high altitude communities in the eastern Himalaya. With increasing access to modern facilities, market opportunities and changes in the legal framework, pastoral systems in the Himalaya are undergoing an unprecedented change. Questionnaire-based qualitative surveys were conducted in five villages of northern Bhutan, to understand how the recent changes in the legal framework for Cordyceps (known as caterpillar fungus) collection have caused specific changes in yak farming practices. Survey results revealed that women were increasingly involved in yak husbandry and household work, after the legalization of Cordyceps collection in 2004. After legalization, the Cordyceps business overtook yak farming as the main income-earning activity. Post-legalization saw a decline in the overall grassland condition and most herders migrated a month earlier to the summer grazing land. Legalization also led to increase in the number of households buying commercial feeds for yaks. Yak mortality increased and fodder scarcity became more acute, which is a major constraint to yak farming. Despite the good income from the Cordyceps business, yak farming was the preferred earning activity over Cordyceps due to herders' confidence in yak farming as a reliable source of livelihood. Of several measures proposed by yak herders to improve yak farming, increasing grassland productivity and providing subsidies for feed purchases were the most important measures. The study concluded that yak farming practices have undergone a few positive but more undesirable changes after the legalization of Cordyceps collection in 2004. The results suggest multi-disciplinary approaches to address adequately the emerging issues of yak farming e.g. introducing schemes to make yak farming attractive to the mountain youth. The paper suggests interventions to strengthen yak farming and help herders make informed choices in the high altitude rangelands of Bhutan. Essentially, yak farming is at a crossroads where a firm decision is needed to either encourage and strengthen the farming practices or witness the gradual extinction of the age-old tradition.

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Section: Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mountain pastoralism in transition: Consequences of legalizing Cordyceps collection on yak farming practices in Bhutan

Wangchuk

Wangdi

2015

Pastoralism

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“…The biology of O. sinensis remains mysterious largely owing to difficulties in observing fungal development and infection processes in the field. The route of infection is unknown but probably occurs at the first instar larval stage [8]. The host caterpillars live underground for 4-5 years and have 7-9 instars depending on their sex [9].…”

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confidence: 99%

Genome survey uncovers the secrets of sex and lifestyle in caterpillar fungus

et al. 2013

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The caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (best known as Cordyceps sinensis) mummifies ghost moth larvae exclusively in Tibetan Plateau alpine ecosystems. Touted as "Himalayan Viagra", the fungus is highly prized due to its medical benefits and dwindling supplies. Attempts to culture the sexual fruiting-body have failed and the huge market demand has led to severe devastation of local ecosystems and to the fungus heading towards extinction. By genome sequencing, we establish that unlike related insect pathogens O. sinensis contains two compatible mating-type genes in its genome and is self-fertile, i.e. homothallic. However, sexual processes are only initiated under native environmental conditions. O. sinensis resembles biotrophic plant pathogens in having a genome shaped by retrotransposon-driven expansions. The resulting changes in gene content suggest that O. sinensis has a biphasic pathogenic mechanism beginning with stealth pathogenesis in early host instars. O. sinensis is the first psychrophilic fungus sequenced and is adapted to extreme cold with putative antifreeze proteins and mechanisms for increasing lipid accumulation and fatty acid unsaturation. We hypothesize that for the inbreeding O. sinensis the massive proliferation of retrotransposons provides a tradeoff between the advantages of increased genetic variation independent of sexual recombination and deletion of genes dispensable for its specialized pathogenic lifestyle.Ophiocordyceps sinensis, genome expansion, homothallism, biotrophic parasitism, psychrophile Citation:Hu X, Zhang Y J, Xiao G H, et al. Genome survey uncovers the secrets of sex and lifestyle in caterpillar fungus.

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“…The host moth lays eggs that later develop into larvae or caterpillars. Before the larvae pupate, they are attacked and infected by the propagules released by the stromata of the parasitic fungus (Cannon et al 2009). The fungus spreads its mycelium inside the body of the host caterpillar and ultimately kills it.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Horizontal integration of multiple institutions: solutions for Yarshagumba related conflict in the Himalayan region of Nepal?

Pant

Kumar²,

Wallrapp

et al. 2017

Int J Commons

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Abstract:The incidence of conflicts among communities over the collection of Yarsagumba, the high value caterpillar fungus, has increased after the Government of Nepal has lifted a ban on its collection and trade in 2001. In most cases, conflicts over Yarsagumba harvesting persist either between locals and outsiders, or between collectors within a local community. In the Api Nampa Conservation Area in Darchula District, Nepal, conflicts are primarily caused by the competiHorizontal integration of multiple institutions 465 tion for control over resources. The rights of the indigenous Shauka community (migratory herders), the Api Nampa Conservation Authority, and the non-Shauka communities of lower villages are at odds due to a lack of clarity, and the absence of coordination regarding the access to resources in the landscape. The Shauka community has restricted the Yarsagumba collection by 'outsiders' to specific and limited areas of their community forest and traditional grazing land. The lowland, non-Shauka community who are dissatisfied with the restrictions have excluded the Shauka people from the utilization of their winter pasture for animal grazing possible through the introduction of a community forestry programme. In this conflict, both communities suffer as the migratory lifestyle of the Shauka has been adversely affected, and earnings of the lowland community from Yarsagumba collection have been reduced. This is a no-win situation. Our study suggests that the Government of Nepal should prepare a national Yarsagumba management policy and local Yarsagumba management guidelines to address conflicts by clearly defining the roles, responsibilities and rights of local institutions and actors, while ensuring the provision of particular services in the community forestry programme to distant and seasonal users.

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Steps towards sustainable harvest of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Bhutan

Cited by 89 publications

References 20 publications

Mountain pastoralism in transition: Consequences of legalizing Cordyceps collection on yak farming practices in Bhutan

Mountain pastoralism in transition: Consequences of legalizing Cordyceps collection on yak farming practices in Bhutan

Genome survey uncovers the secrets of sex and lifestyle in caterpillar fungus

Horizontal integration of multiple institutions: solutions for Yarshagumba related conflict in the Himalayan region of Nepal?

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