Posted Dec 12, 2011

Grant Opportunity: Proposal Concept Announcement for
Sustainability Study of Wild Populations of Ligusticum porteri

The American Herbal Products Association’s Foundation for Education and Research
on Botanicals (AHPA-ERB Foundation) (www.ahpafoundation.org) calls for proposal
concepts to determine the current status of wild populations of Ligusticum porteri
Coulter & Rose (common names: osha, Colorado cough root, Porter's lovage,
Porter's licorice-root, Porter's wild lovage, loveroot, bear medicine, bear root,
mountain lovage, Indian parsley, mountain ginseng, nipo, and chuchupate).

The current need for protection of L. porteri cannot be determined due to a lack of
verifiable scientific data on the vigor or decline of wild populations of the species and
those factors that could enhance or threaten the plant’s survival. The AHPA-ERB
Foundation is requesting interested parties to submit a one- to two-page concept
paper for a proposal that would lead to objective information about the status of
Ligusticum porteri in the wild and sustainable harvest practices that would ensure
survival of the species.

Following a review of the submitted concept papers, the AHPA-ERB Foundation will
invite selected parties to prepare a more-detailed proposal. It is anticipated that an
award for a research study will made based on the review of the full applications.

Research Objectives

1. Locate and inventory wild populations of Ligusticum porteri Coulter & Rose in
the United States to develop a baseline in order to determine whether this
species is being over-collected, suffers from habitat destruction, and/or is
endangered by other biological or physical conditions that threaten the diversity
and/or survival of the species.
2. Evaluate the sustainability of current harvest practices in southeast Colorado, or
other suitable locations, to develop and propose best practice recommendations
for ensuring protection for L. porteri from over-collection or other threats that
could limit the long-term viability of this plant species.

Background

The underground portions of L. porteri (osha) are commonly used as a treatment for
coughs, respiratory infections, and indigestion. In the 1990s, perceived over-collection
raised concern about this plant species and led to a three-year moratorium in 1999 on
collection in some selected locations protected by the U.S. Forest Service. Following
the expiration of this moratorium, concerns about survival of the species have again
been expressed, and attempts have been made to have the plant listed as an
endangered species, but without success. The United Plant Savers has included L.
porteri on its list of “at risk” species, and the plant has been proposed for listing by the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES).

L. porteri has reportedly proven difficult to cultivate, making any commercial
production seemingly uneconomical. The plant grows and develops slowly with
estimates of at least 10 years growth needed before being ready to harvest, leading
David Inouye, director of the Conservation Biology Program at the University of
Maryland, to assert that osha is best cultivated by assisting propagation in wild
stands. Over-harvesting a plant such as L. porteri in the wild without allowing
sufficient time for replacement growth is inherently unsustainable. In addition, other
factors, such as habitat destruction and diseases, can create serious survival
problem for the species.

Proposal Concept Submission Requirements

The preliminary proposals/concept papers should address the research objectives
listed in this announcement, identify the primary investigator with contact information,
identify the organization(s) involved, provide the title of the project, the location of the
work, and an estimated budget.

Submission Information and Due Date
Concept papers are to be submitted to AHPA Chief Science Officer Steven Dentali,
Ph.D., via email at sdentali@ahpa.org.
Submissions are due no later than March 30, 2012.

Research Award
The award is anticipated to be in the $5,000 to $10,000 range.
No overhead charges will be allowed.

Click here for PDF flyer or visit website at www.ahpafoundation.org

Page updated Dec 12, 2011