Scientific publication (e.g., journal articles and book chapters independently peer-reviewed)
Caterpillar Fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) Production and Sustainability on the Tibetan Plateau and in the Himalayas
Decreasing
Is the species endemic HIDE
Yes
Population Status
Common and wildly distributed
Unknown/not recorded
National Level
Unknown/not recorded
Population Trend
Unknown/not recorded
Sub-national Level
Unknown/not recorded
Name
Emma Hemmerlé
Scientific Name
Ophiocordyceps sinensis
Common Name(s)
Caterpillar Fungus
yartsa gunbu
dongchong xiacao
Type of Use
Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)
If extractive, for the target species, is this use
Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of
The whole entire organism
Are specific characteristics/traits being targeted?
Unknown/not recorded
Purpose of Use
Income generation from trade at individual or household or community
Additional Details (if available)
In traditional Tibetan and Chinese medicine Ophiocordyceps sinensis is rec- ognized as a powerful tonic and aphrodisiac. It is also prescribed for lung, liver and kidney issues.
Fur- thermore it has also become a fashionable luxury product, often given as a gift, and a culinary status symbol in China, especially during the Chinese New Year.
What is the main end use for any living organisms, parts or products taken/extracted?
Is the use part of a strategy to generate conservation incentives, to finance conservation, or to improve tolerance/stewardship?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting the conservation status of the species? HIDE
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting natural selection?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting poaching of illegal wildlife trade?
Unknown/not reported
Is there any evidence that this use of the species is having a knock-on effect on the status of non-target species
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment carried out
The current (and apparently increasing) harvest pressure on caterpillar fungus is unprecedented. With increasing numbers of Tibetans collecting, the absence of traditional sustainable collection techniques and, in some cases local governments optimizing collection, the issue of sustainability looms large; published and unpublished figures do not indicate a population crash thus far, but do not preclude a slightly reduced harvest either. statistics still seem to report stable production, but this result from two factors: more people searching more intensely and also new areas being searched that were not previously accessed for fungal extraction;
Has a valuation of financial flows from this use at the site/national/international level been recorded
Yartsa gunbu income provides cash for health care, education, transportation—especially motorcycles—consumer goods and ‘spore’ money for entrepreneurial activities such as trade as well as community activities.
Yartsa gunbu income provides cash for health care, education, transportation—especially motorcycles—consumer goods and ‘spore’ money for entrepreneurial activities such as trade as well as community activities.
Disputes over access to caterpillar fungus resources, and some of these turn violent, resulting in a few deaths each year.
Other Socio-Economic Impacts
The income derived through the collection and trade of this precious myco-medicinal has led to an empowerment of marginal communities
Has any assessment of socio-economic sustainability been recorded
Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment
The caterpillar fungus has become the most important source of cash income in wide areas of the Tibetan Plateau.
In recent years value and collection intensity have immensely increased: its value increased by 900% between 1997 and mid-2008; This stream of cash income to rural communities from collection and trade of yartsa gunbu has caused a far-reaching transformation of social and economic conditions in the last fifteen years.
Is this production boom sustainable? Unfortunately, we do not have an answer to this crucial question that is based on sound scientific methodology. The dependency of the rural communities on, and the long-term availability of, such a precious resource clearly argue for continued harvest of caterpillar fungus.
Has the use of the species been recorded as resulting in changes to human health in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the species in use been noted as being of particular disease risk to humans?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the use of the species resulted in changes to animal welfare in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Are there particular practices which have increased the risk to human or animal health or welfare in the use of this species?
Unknown/not recorded
Does the use of this species increase susceptibility to pathogen spread?
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Strong community governance/institutions/rights for wildlife management
Absent
Supportive policy and legislative framework
Absent
Adequate capacity to implement and enforce governance arrangements
Absent
Good alignment of legal protections with local cultural values and traditional
Absent
Support from NGOs
Absent
Support from Government
Absent
High financial returns from use
Absent
Abundant population of target species
Absent
Biological characteristics of target species
Absent
Capacity building of community
Absent
Establishment and implementation of species and/or area management plan
Absent
Effective private sector approach engagement through certification
Winkler, D. (2009). Caterpillar Fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) Production and Sustainability on the Tibetan Plateau and in the Himalayas, Asian Medicine, 5(2), 291-316. doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/157342109X568829
Threats/pressures impacting the species at the scale of this record