(Translated by Ariungerel)
Saposhnikovia diviricata is medicinal species of Carrot family (Apiaceae Lindl) and it had been widely spread out in the abandoned area. This species plays main role in composition of steppe vegetation but it is vanishing because its medicinal root. The useful part of this plant is its 20-30 cm root; below root neck to be used for medicinal propose. Since then the plant is dramatically vanishing when this part of the plant is collected and exported to China.
By 2008, each 20-30cm long and wet root was sold at the price of 750 tugrugs and exported to China. And one kg dried roots can be sold up to 17$ in the pharmacies of the China, according to study of Helen Menk (Swiss citizen), 2002.
The plant rehabilitation is very limited because only the root is dug out, and those it takes 5-6 years for those remained tiny roots to be restored.
The plant investigation is conducted on the steppe of Inner Mongolia by Mongolian and Chinese researcher and inspectors of Protected Area Administration “Dalai Lake” of Baruun Uzemchin province in China, 2002. In that period of time, Chinese people did stop collecting Saposhnikovia diviricata and root digging. If someone is found collecting it, selling tools to collect it, or transporing it, he/she would be punished by government. It is good example of protecting this endangered species by Inspectors of Inner Mongolia.
However, licenses on export of this plant’s root are given to companises instead of individuals, so then companies can still hire people who living in the countryside to collect it and obtain it at a dirty price in the ground.
![DivaricataSaposhnikoviaRoot[1]](http://www.nomadgreen.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/DivaricataSaposhnikoviaRoot12.jpg)
This plant is already listed into rare species list of Mongolia due to 165th regulation, enforced on 5 August, 2004, but it is still endangered without measurement on rehabilitation. When I met with local communities and the environmental inspector Kh. Khurelsukh of Sumber soum in the Dornod aimag, we talked about this issues and they said the plant is endangered due to collection activities in all seasons.
Collection and preparation of medicinal plant is not easy work. The plant is poisonous and might cause bad influence to body and make collectors get allergy when collecting it. For example, small red spots is spread on the skin of collectors, which is itching and ulcerating. The local people did not understand these bad consequences and diseases while they continue selling the plant at very cheap price to support their livelihood. If they have allergy and they could not afford to buy a box of chlorophenomon (cheapest medicine for allergy in Mongolia) at the price of one kg dried roots sold by them, would people still exchange their health as a tiny income that would leave plant allergy for a life long?
We conducted vegetation investigation in the abandoned area in May, 2009 and none of any plant is registered this region.
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Plants are vanishing because its medicinal magic roots
By dorjgotovariungerel
I am botanist. Since graduated from University, I am working in the environment and agricultural section of Mongolia, during for 23 years. I was born in the small soum of Mongolia. My favourite song is a long song " Yahan zambuu tiviin nar". I love countryside kids.
(Translated by Ariungerel)
Saposhnikovia diviricata is medicinal species of Carrot family (Apiaceae Lindl) and it had been widely spread out in the abandoned area. This species plays main role in composition of steppe vegetation but it is vanishing because its medicinal root. The useful part of this plant is its 20-30 cm root; below root neck to be used for medicinal propose. Since then the plant is dramatically vanishing when this part of the plant is collected and exported to China.
By 2008, each 20-30cm long and wet root was sold at the price of 750 tugrugs and exported to China. And one kg dried roots can be sold up to 17$ in the pharmacies of the China, according to study of Helen Menk (Swiss citizen), 2002.
The plant rehabilitation is very limited because only the root is dug out, and those it takes 5-6 years for those remained tiny roots to be restored.
The plant investigation is conducted on the steppe of Inner Mongolia by Mongolian and Chinese researcher and inspectors of Protected Area Administration “Dalai Lake” of Baruun Uzemchin province in China, 2002. In that period of time, Chinese people did stop collecting Saposhnikovia diviricata and root digging. If someone is found collecting it, selling tools to collect it, or transporing it, he/she would be punished by government. It is good example of protecting this endangered species by Inspectors of Inner Mongolia.
However, licenses on export of this plant’s root are given to companises instead of individuals, so then companies can still hire people who living in the countryside to collect it and obtain it at a dirty price in the ground.
![DivaricataSaposhnikoviaRoot[1]](http://www.nomadgreen.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/DivaricataSaposhnikoviaRoot12.jpg)
This plant is already listed into rare species list of Mongolia due to 165th regulation, enforced on 5 August, 2004, but it is still endangered without measurement on rehabilitation. When I met with local communities and the environmental inspector Kh. Khurelsukh of Sumber soum in the Dornod aimag, we talked about this issues and they said the plant is endangered due to collection activities in all seasons.
Collection and preparation of medicinal plant is not easy work. The plant is poisonous and might cause bad influence to body and make collectors get allergy when collecting it. For example, small red spots is spread on the skin of collectors, which is itching and ulcerating. The local people did not understand these bad consequences and diseases while they continue selling the plant at very cheap price to support their livelihood. If they have allergy and they could not afford to buy a box of chlorophenomon (cheapest medicine for allergy in Mongolia) at the price of one kg dried roots sold by them, would people still exchange their health as a tiny income that would leave plant allergy for a life long?
We conducted vegetation investigation in the abandoned area in May, 2009 and none of any plant is registered this region.