AHPA recently submitted comments to the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests to recommend that a revision of its plan for land and resource management include a process for permitting commercial harvest of oshá (Ligusticum porteri) root.

The AHPA ERB Foundation has for several years supported research by the University of Kansas to evaluate the impact of harvest of wild oshá root. That research concluded that these plants have a high capacity for post‐harvest recolonization under variable light conditions. Informed by that research, AHPA advises that GMUG National Forests:

• Adopt levels and intervals of harvest (up to 50 percent of mature plants every 10 years) as recommended by the University of Kansas
• Establish monitoring to ensure long-term, sustainable harvests and revise harvest rate depending on information obtained through monitoring
• Charge a fee derived from oshá’s fair market value
• Set aside areas in these Forests for exclusive harvest of oshá by tribal, Hispano and other communities
• Establish a pilot program for harvest permitting as described by a delayed final rule on forest botanical products issued in 2008 by the Forest Service, if necessary.

"The uses of oshá root are unique and not readily replaced with other plant species traditionally used for health benefits," said AHPA President Michael McGuffin, "All, or nearly all, oshá root used by herbal product companies is harvested from wild populations and GMUG Forests are natural habitats of oshá. By implementing a system for permitting harvest of sustainable quantities of oshá root in these forests, we can help ensure the future supply osha for local communities and consumers across the U.S."

If you are interested in supporting the AHPA ERB Foundation's oshá sustainability efforts, please contact Stan Cowan.