India

Harvesting_Indian bdellium-tree_India

Emma_Hemmerle — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 16:25:48 +0000

Harvesting_Indian bdellium-tree_India Emma_Hemmerle Wed, 01/26/2022 - 16:25

Affiliation

IIED

Date Of Record Entry

Wed, 01/26/2022 - 12:00

Type of wild species covered by the record

Wild species used in its natural habitat

Stage of the value chain covered by the record

Unknown/not recorded

Record Source

Scientific publication (e.g., journal articles and book chapters independently peer-reviewed)

Non-destructive harvesting of oleo-gum resin in Commiphora wightii (Arnott) Bhandari—A critically endangered plant

Decreasing

Is the species endemic HIDE

Unknown

Population Status

Unknown/not recorded

No formal international protection in place

National Level

Unknown/not recorded

Threats/Pressures impacting the conservation of the species

Agriculture

Illegal/Unregulated Logging and Wood Extraction

Invasive Species

Population Trend

Unknown/not recorded

Sub-national Level

Unknown/not recorded

Additional Details (if available)

The gum has high importance in international trade and it has been extracted at unsustainable rates with faulty extraction method causing declines in population. Unsustainable collection of multiple parts, high volume trade and loss of habitat are the major threats to this species. Grazing and browsing by sheep and goats seem to have some bearing on the abundance of the species. Collection of branches as fuel wood during the rainy season, scarcity or festive times further aggravates the status of population. This species demonstrates one of the most generic problems of conservation: the species was initially subjected to a very high degree of organized extermination, leaving a small population, which was exposed to continuing anthropogenic pressures, like grazing and browsing, which ultimately arrests new recruitment (Dixit and Rao 2000). Over-exploitation, a narrow extent of occurrence, small area of occupancy, severe fragmentation of populations, very low regeneration and invasion of alien species mean that C. wightii is facing a high extinction risk (Reddy et al. 2012).

Name

Emma Hemmerlé

Scientific Name

Commiphora wightii

Common Name(s)

Indian bdellium-tree

Guggal

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

Non-Lethal

Does this use involve take/extraction of

Only parts or products of the organism (e.g., feathers, leaves, branches, eggs, nuts)

Details of parts/products taken

gum harvesting

How is the primary use carried out?

Gathering/Cutting/Collecting Terrestrial Plants and Fungi or Their Products From the Wild

Are specific characteristics/traits being targeted?

Unknown/not recorded

Purpose of Use

Basic subsistence (meeting day to day essential needs)

Additional Details (if available)

Oleo-gum resin is obtained from bark of this plant and has potent medicinal uses mainly in arthritis, bronchitis, cholesterol reduction, hyperlipidaemiain, atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease;

What is the main end use for any living organisms, parts or products taken/extracted?

Medicine/Pharmaceutical (human/veterinary)

What is the trend in the level of offtake within the period covered by this record?

India

Harvesting_Indian bdellium-tree_India

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