Articles
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF ARNICA MONTANA IN THE CATALAN PYRENEES (NE SPAIN): WILD HARVESTING OR CULTIVATION?
Article number
955_32
Pages
225 – 230
Language
English
Abstract
Production of high-valued medicinal plants can contribute to the sustainable development of mountain regions since it can be a complement to the main economic activities in these areas, such as tourism or extensive livestock, through different production systems and working scales.
An example is the sustainable production of arnica in the Catalan Pyrenees.
During 2009, an assessment of the potential production of arnica was conducted in the buffer area of the Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, where the species grows naturally and is used in folk medicine by local inhabitants.
In order to develop a related economic activity in this area, the best adaptable production system was analyzed, considering two options a priori: sustainable wild harvesting and cultivation.
Their potentialities and limitations were examined: resource density in the wild (flowering plants/ha), current demand of arnica flower heads in the national market, legal constraints, cultivation requirements and socio-economy of the area.
In the studied area, wild collection of arnica flower heads must be ruled out, due to the obtained low estimated yield (70.5 g/ha of dry flower heads) when the recommended sustainable wild harvesting methods were followed.
However, organic cultivation of local genotypes at an artisanal scale is encouraged, due to the relatively low demand of arnica in the Spanish market (1266 kg of dried flower heads/year), the current agriculture production system in the area (livestock pasturages and home-gardens) and the good germination rate and quality of local genotype.
An example is the sustainable production of arnica in the Catalan Pyrenees.
During 2009, an assessment of the potential production of arnica was conducted in the buffer area of the Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, where the species grows naturally and is used in folk medicine by local inhabitants.
In order to develop a related economic activity in this area, the best adaptable production system was analyzed, considering two options a priori: sustainable wild harvesting and cultivation.
Their potentialities and limitations were examined: resource density in the wild (flowering plants/ha), current demand of arnica flower heads in the national market, legal constraints, cultivation requirements and socio-economy of the area.
In the studied area, wild collection of arnica flower heads must be ruled out, due to the obtained low estimated yield (70.5 g/ha of dry flower heads) when the recommended sustainable wild harvesting methods were followed.
However, organic cultivation of local genotypes at an artisanal scale is encouraged, due to the relatively low demand of arnica in the Spanish market (1266 kg of dried flower heads/year), the current agriculture production system in the area (livestock pasturages and home-gardens) and the good germination rate and quality of local genotype.
Authors
R. Melero, M. Fanlo, E. Moré, I. Vázquez , R. Cristóbal
Keywords
arnica, conservation, resource assessment, market survey, rural development, sesquiterpene lactones
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