A. Species
Scientific name: Nardostachys grandiflora
Common name(s): Jatamans, Indian nard, Balchhad, Bulthe, mushkbala
Global IUCN Red List Threat Status:
B. Location of use
Geographic location(s):
- Nepal
Country/Region:
C. Scale of assessment
Scale of assessment: Regional/Continental/Multi-country level
Name/Details of location: Himalayas, but with main focus on Nepal.
D. Timescale of use
Start Year: 1997
End Year: 2002
E. Information about the use
How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat
Type of use: Extractive
Practice of use: Gathering/Cutting/Collecting terrestrial plants and fungi or their products from the wild
Lethal or non-lethal: Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of: The whole entire organism
Purpose(s) of end use: Medicine and hygiene
Motivation of use: Income generation from trade (individual/household/community) and Largescale commercial exploitation for trade
Is this use legal or illegal?: Some use is legal and some is illegal
F. Information about the Users
Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: Local people and National / local private sector
G. Information about the sustainability of use
Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered unsustainable
Details of assessment carried out: This CITES NDF Report
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: In Nepal N. grandiflora populations were assessed to have been reduced by more than 30% within the previous 10 years, and although spatially and temporally systematic monitoring data is lacking the large trade of rhizomes to India is assumed to be causing overharvest. This is supported by the observed slow recovery of populations after harvest.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: not recorded
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: not recorded
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: No, sustainability not determined
Details of assessment carried out: This CITES NDF Report
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: N. grandiflora is reported used in Nepal to treat several illnesses, for example, in brain and uterine tonics, stimulants, external pain killers, antiseptic, for epilepsy, hysteria, convulsions, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, and insomnia. It is used in Ayurvedic and Amchi medicines as well as in modern herbal preparations.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: not recorded
Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species
It should be of high priority to collect data on the population size at national and local levels. Potential for sustained production of rhizomes through rotational harvest could be facilitated through supporting legislation, whereas currently export of cultivated rhizomes is subject to the same licences as wild collected plant material.
Record source
Information about the record source: grey_lit
Date of publication/issue/production: 2008-01-01T00:00:00+0000
Source Reference(s):
By Helle O. Larsen and Carsten S. Olsen.
NDF WORKSHOP CASE STUDIES
WG 2 - Perennials
Case STUDY 3
Nardostachys grandiflora.
Date of record entry: 2023-09-26