Justine Law

Associate Professor of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Sonoma State University

wild ginseng plant

Wild ginseng is declining, but small-scale ‘diggers’ aren’t the main threat to this native plant − and they can help save it

Threats to ginseng across Appalachia are a legitimate concern, and curbing profligate overharvesting is important. But diggers helped facilitate the existence and persistence of ginseng populations, and they could be knowledgeable, skillful conservation allies.

September 17, 2024