U.S. Forest Service Extends Pause on Ginseng Harvesting in Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests

The U.S. Forest Service announced today that the suspension of permits for harvesting American ginseng in the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests will continue through the 2024 season. This decision comes as efforts to restore the declining ginseng populations in these forests are ongoing.

According to Gary Kauffman, botanist for the National Forests in North Carolina, the pause was first implemented in 2021 due to alarming data indicating a significant decline in wild ginseng populations. "We’re seeing that trend reversing slightly," Kauffman noted, "but ginseng plants take a long time to mature before they reach the peak age to start bearing seeds."

American ginseng, a plant native to the forests of western North Carolina, is known for its longevity, with some plants living up to 60-80 years. However, it can take as long as a decade for a ginseng plant to begin producing the most seeds. Overharvesting has made mature, seed-bearing plants increasingly rare, further threatening the species' survival.

In response to this crisis, the Forest Service has partnered with the Mountain Horticulture and Research Center to establish seed production beds and propagate individual plants. These efforts aim to augment existing populations and establish new ones across both national forests. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program is also involved in monitoring these wild populations to ensure their recovery.

The consequences for illegally harvesting ginseng during this suspension are severe. Individuals caught removing wild ginseng plants or their parts from National Forest lands may face fines of up to $5,000, a federal prison sentence of up to six months, or both.

“Harvesting ginseng has a long tradition in western North Carolina, so we owe it to future generations to help keep that tradition alive by doing our part to conserve this treasured resource,” Kauffman emphasized. “Otherwise, it could potentially become the next native species to disappear from these mountains completely.”

As the U.S. Forest Service continues its restoration efforts, the hope is that future generations will once again be able to sustainably harvest this treasured plant.