Blooms of vibrant purples and blues called our attention as we made our way through forests and hills carpeted with a rich mixture of greens, greys, and earth tones.
Despite the cautionary advice to not touch or smell any flowers or plants to avoid any allergies or contact toxicity, we could not help but closely admire the seemingly ordinary plants and herbs. But this was no normal botanical display – we were surrounded by a wealth of highly prized medicinal plants and herbs as we walked through Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP) in north-western Bhutan.
“This place is a living pharmacy!” exclaimed Izabella Koziell, ICIMOD’s Deputy Director-General, “we should be collecting herbs along the way”. This sent a wave of laughter through the team, as we continued our journey through Bhutan’s second-largest national park, where, according to the park’s team, more than 200 species of medicinal herbs have been recorded, boasting myriad health benefits.
JDNP is a testament to Bhutan’s rich biodiversity, proudly preserving several of the nation’s iconic symbols. Within its borders, you will find the majestic cypress (Cupressus torulosa) – the revered national tree, the takin (Budorcas taxicolor), best described as ‘having the body of a cow and the face of a goat’ – the national animal, the blue poppy (Meconopsis grandis) – an emblematic national flower, and the raven (Corvus corax) – the national bird.
At the heart of mountain livelihoods within JDNP lies a pivotal practice – the collection of medicinal plants, herbs, and other species. Throughout our journey in the national park, we encountered yak herders collecting herbs, whose highland livelihoods are closely tied to both yak products and medicinal herbs.
A yak herder we met at Shodu (4,000 metres above sea level) proudly shared with us that he had gathered a plentiful harvest of yartsa gunbu during the last collection season and had earned a good income from the sales. Further north, at Tshering Yangu, three women herders described their routine, which involves tending to yaks while simultaneously collecting medicinal species.
The gathering of medicinal herbs leverages the unique biodiversity of the JDNP, capitalising on the abundance of natural resources in the remote highlands. The collection of high-value herbs has diversified the income sources for highland communities, helping them to build their resilience to better cope with uncertainties from climate change, such as extreme weather events, and changes in pasture conditions that affect yak herding.
The heavy dependence on herb collection for livelihoods comes with its threats and challenges, many of which are just emerging. Among these is the encroachment of invasive species and shrubs on rangelands, such as Rumex obtusifolius and rhododendron shrubberies, which have significantly threatened the growth and harvesting of medicinal herbs. The changing climate may also be affecting the proliferation and upslope movement of these shrubs and invasive species.
The collection of medicinal herbs is at risk of declining, likely due to the changing climate. Changes in weather patterns have resulted in reduced harvests. Unpredictable and irregular rainfall has exacerbated soil erosion and landslides, further impacting areas where medicinal herbs are harvested.
According to Menjong Sorig, a state-owned enterprise of the Royal Government of Bhutan, that follows Sowa Rigpa, an ancient traditional medicinal system influenced by Buddhist philosophy, there are also issues with collection practices. With medicinal herbs high in demand, the number of collectors has increased in the highlands. Unfortunately, these collectors often fail to follow sustainable collection practices, resulting in overharvesting and damage to plants and sites, which may have contributed to the decline in the availability of medicinal herbs.
Thinley Norbu of Menjong Sorig also stresses that the future of herb collection and its contribution to mountain livelihoods depends on the stability of the natural habitats of herbs and the maintenance of sustainable populations in the collection areas through appropriate collection techniques. This includes gathering only plants that are found in abundance, avoiding unnecessary damage to plants, harvesting conservatively by taking no more than 30–50% using the ‘thinning method’, and covering the hole after digging or uprooting to protect against infection and invasion by pests.
The writer serves as a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Analyst at ICIMOD, Kathamandu
Photo credits Thinley Norbu and Jitendra Bajracharya
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
