Illegal harvesting and livestock grazing threaten the endangered orchid Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soó in Nepalese Himalaya

• Published in: Ecology and evolution 2021-06, Vol.11 (11), p.6672-6687
• Main Authors: Chapagain, Deep Jyoti, Meilby, Henrik, Baniya, Chitra Bahadur, Budha‐Magar, Shanta, Ghimire, Suresh Kumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: anthropogenic disturbances; Anthropogenic factors; Biomass; Climate change; Community; Conservation status; Dactylorhiza; Ecological effects; Ecological studies; Endangered & extinct species; Grazing; Habitats; Herbal medicine; interview survey; Livestock; Livestock grazing; Medicinal plants; orchid; Original Research; Plant populations; Population density; population monitoring; Population studies; Radiation; Reproductive fitness; salep; Sustainability; Wildlife conservation
• ISSN: 2045-7758; 2045-7758
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7520

Harvesting of orchids for medicine and salep production is a traditional practice, and increasing market demand is spurring illegal harvest. Ethno‐ecological studies in combination with the effect of anthropogenic disturbance are lacking for orchids. We compared population density and structure, and tuber biomass of Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soó for three years in two sites: Manang, where harvesting of medicinal plants was locally regulated (protected), and Darchula, where harvesting was locally unregulated (unprotected). Six populations were studied along an elevation gradient by establishing 144 temporary plots (3 × 3 m2) from 3,400 to 4,600 m elevations. Mean density of D. hatagirea was significantly higher in the locally protected (1.31 ± 0.17 plants/m2) than in the unprotected (0.72 ± 0.06 plants/m2) site. The protected site showed stable population density with high reproductive fitness and tuber biomass over the three‐year period. A significant negative effect (p