Tibetans living in a two-forgotten villages in the Himalayan foothills, succumb to delusion wild capitalism and did not start as expected both Western and Asian retailers plunder their natural resources priced raw materials. Their initiative sufficiency and sustainability for the collection and processing of domestic Yatso gunbu showed that it is possible to dispense with those NGOs that notoriously protects anything, what is just moving money.
"In the world there is a strong and highly misguided belief that indigenous communities are simply not able to solve their own problems complicated," says Geoff Childs, assistant anthropology at Washington University in Saint Louis. "Now those committed doubters who would like to assume the role of protectors and administrators wealth of indigenous communities, inflicted a heavy blow to the Tibetans. People from the Himalayan foothills proved that they are able to take care of themselves and the sustainability of their business. "
That is what often fail to world leaders and the various communities, not for the people of Tibetan villages Nubra and Tsum problem. Simply arrange the manner and amount Yatso gunbu that will gather every year to keep it pretty well for the coming years. And regardless of rising prices and demand. Sustainable rate of harvest while allowing natural regeneration of natural resources and threatened even sensitive environment in the Alpine stage.
What is it and where it took Yatso gunbu?
In fact, it is a very specific fungal parasite, described as Latin Ophiocordyceps sinensis . The attacks immobile caterpillars of moths, gradually mummifies and uses their body to proper nutrition. The result of this activity is 6-12 cm long villi are withered by the larva of the top, which may be encountered along the strip of melting snow. Indeed, the Tibetan name can be loosely translated as "winter worm, summer grass".
Chinese folk medicine uses the dried growths Yatso gunbu more than two thousand years and is successfully applied mainly to cases of erectile dysfunction. Often, however, mentions its applications even in cases of cancer, kidney disease, antidepressants or for blood purification. Chinese herbaristy and staromilné Botany is also the twig withered larva badge of their profession. In 1998 he sold a kilo of natural raw materials in the conversion for $ 39, but today the purchase prices are around 600. The selling price in China or overseas but goes into the thousands of dollars.
Geoff Childs, along with graduate student Namgyal Choedupem described for journal Himalaya gradual evolution of the market situation Yatso gunbu Tibetan autonomous region of Gorkha. Residents of villages in Nubra and Tsum for years while focusing on other activities, but the collection of parasitic fungus was previously 80% of family income. But with how to collect stepped in a growing number of people from the lowlands and private individuals from abroad, there was a noticeable disruption of the environment, and in some areas of the buffer zone of the national park has declined nacházených Yatso gunbu up to 40%. There was also violence between local and foreign collectors, and Rebgongu there were two deaths.
The situation had to be addressed in the 2013 session of the two villages, and reached a mutual agreement in designing the "reasonableness" of collection and ensure its sustainability. Among the key measures taken, as described Childs and Choedup include maintaining the existing management regime to "deposits" (conservation grazing on pastures where Ophiocordyceps sinensis occurs), the gatherer season regular monitoring hot spots and especially the compulsory registration of collectors.
But that's not all:
gatherers must be in season four times a day to come to the village (to not collect continuously)
is prohibited collection on the mountain slopes (which are sacred, and will also serve as a reserve - a refuge and source of renewal Ophiocordyceps sinensis)
gatherers must pay a fee to the common fund (to finance other joint projects and support other crops).
At the same time there was an increase fines for infringement of the collection.
"In the case of villages Nubra and Tsum see that they set management fully corresponds to the concept of wise management of a renewable resource," says Childs. "Although many observers calling for greater intervention by the government or NGOs, villagers clearly demonstrate their interest in sustainability of the collection in the long run. In principle, however, to see that at least some local communities are fully able to manage resources and benefit from them reasonably for their own benefit. "
Source: Ekolist.cz
