Ginseng harvest ban continues on national forest lands

WINCHESTER, Ky. (WTVQ) – A ban on ginseng harvesting continues at Daniel Boone National Forest.

The Forest Service announced Wednesday that the ban is part of an effort to reestablish wild ginseng populations on national forest lands.

The agency issued the ban on ginseng harvesting in 2016.

The root of ginseng plants is marketed internationally as an herbal medicine for various ailments, but Western research has provided no conclusive evidence of beneficial health claims.

Much of wild ginseng’s decline is attributed to illegal harvest methods. Overharvesting, out-of-season collection, the taking of mature plants without planting seed for future crops, and the taking of all or most plants from a population are some of the contributing factors, according to the agency.

In wild ginseng’s population range, Kentucky ranks at the top in ginseng harvests. Other states with high collection rates include West Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina.

On national forest lands, anyone removing wild ginseng plant or its parts is considered theft. Penalties for poaching may include a fine up to $5,000 or a 6-month sentence in federal prison, or both.

The Kentucky state regulations for ginseng harvest are different from rules that apply in the Daniel Boone National Forest. For state information regarding ginseng harvest, visit the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s website at http://www.kyagr.com/marketing/ginseng.html.