AHPA President Michael McGuffin participates in United Plant Savers board meeting

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AHPA President Michael McGuffin participates in United Plant Savers board meeting

McGuffin is has served on the UpS board for nearly 20 years

Published: Tuesday, April 25, 2017

AHPA President Michael McGuffin last week participated in the United Plant Savers (UpS) board of directors meeting.

McGuffin is has served on the UpS board for nearly 20 years to support the organization's goal of protecting native medicinal plants of the United States and Canada and their native habitat while ensuring an abundant renewable supply of medicinal plants for generations to come.

"The importance of UpS continues to increase as the growing popularity of medicinal plants used in a wide-variety of consumer products creates more demand for wild botanical resources," McGuffin said. "UpS research, education and conservation efforts help ensure the continued growth and success of the herbal products industry. In this way, the goals of UpS are intrinsically connected to the goals of AHPA"

The UpS board of directors discussed several initiatives during the meeting, including:

Fundraising for the Center for Medicinal Plant Conservation 

UpS has raised nearly $20,000 to build the Center for Medicinal Plant Conservation on it's 360-acre Botanical Sanctuary in Rutland, Ohio. The conservation aims to preserve the medicine of the forests and revive cultural traditions in the Appalachian region and across the county. Funds raised will also support regenerative forest farming traditions through innovative educational events.

Ginseng and Forest Botanicals Symposium

July 12-14, 2017 

This symposium, spearheaded by United Plant Savers and in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is a forum for presenting current research and documenting critical new information about the conservation, cultivation, and commerce of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and other Appalachian forest botanicals. This three-day symposium will provide a forum to bring together a diverse array of stakeholders involved in the management and regulation of forest botanicals in Appalachia, including federal and state agencies, tribal representatives, academics, landowners, collectors, and the herbal products industry. The symposium will also include a poster session.

Botanical Sanctuary Network 

This network of sanctuaries is dedicated to restoring and preserving habitat for wildlife, both plants and animals. Preserving and protecting the habitats in which native plant communities thrive is a critical, first step to medicinal plant conservation and sustainability.

Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Coalition 

This network of forestland owners, universities, and governmental and non-governmental organizations that share a common goal of improving agroforestry production opportunities and farming capabilities among forest farmers. The collective aim is to increase awareness of forest-grown medicinal plants through education and relationship building, and support conservation efforts through stewardship of existing plant populations and forest farming of these native botanicals.

Learn more about UpS >>

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