Trillium govanianum

Trillium govanianum is threatened primarily by wild-collection for trade in the pharmaceutical industry and as a medicinal herb. This trade is characterized by a volatile market which has, in the past ten years, greatly increased collection pressure on the species. Over-exploitation resulting from unregulated trade in rhizomes of the species is pervasive throughout much of the species’ range. As rhizomes are the primary product sought for the pharmaceutical industry, harvest for this purpose is fatal to adults and is concentrated in its impact towards larger, reproductive individuals. Several life history characteristics compound the impact of collection. Trillium species, including T. govanianum, are generally long lived, slow to reach reproductive maturity, and characterized by poor capacity for seed dispersal. In some environments, Trillium subpopulations are known to be very slow to recover from disturbance and may require several centuries to rebound from significant localized declines (Kahmen and Jules 2005). Though the specific nature of population recovery has not been extensively documented for T. govanianum, it is expected to be similar to North American Trillium species for which more data are available. Observed declines suggest this is the case as unregulated uprooting of the herb in recent years from the North-West Himalayan region has left it on the verge of extinction (Sharma et al. 2017).

Populations of several Himalayan medicinal plants, including T. govanianum, are also declining because of unregulated grazing by livestock (Bhatt et al. 2005). Herbivory by domesticated animals and wild deer is common within the range of T. govanianum. Leaves of the species can be eaten by goats and sheep (Chauhan et al. 2018). In other Trillium species, high levels of herbivory have been shown to reduce the number of reproductive plants relative to non-reproductive plants as deer and livestock preferentially browse on the largest, reproductive individuals in a given subpopulation (Anderson 1994, Augustine and Frelich 1998, Knight 2007).

Although the direct effects of climate change on the species are not known, the range of its distribution, specific habitat requirements, and reports on other Trillium species (Ream 2011) provides a clear indication that the species could be vulnerable to climate change.

Presently, the transportation of rhizomes through Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir (India) requires a permit. However, the economic returns have encouraged residents to risk legal actions and unregulated trade persists in the region. In Himachal Pradesh, a fee of INR 8,000 is imposed per 100 kg of material collected (Government of Himachal Pradesh, Department of Forests 2013). Enforcement of permitting varies in intensity across regions and policies for awarding permits appear to be in flux. In Pakistan, the species is being illegally smuggled (Ahmed and Akhtar 2016).

Chauhan et al. (2020) have recently proposed a method involving three main aspects (restoration, sustainable use, and protection) for the conservation of T. govanianum. The restoration aspect of the species should involve mapping of natural habitat, identification of elite germplasm, demonstration of propagation methods in cultivated plots, identification of extirpated subpopulations, and reintroduction. Significant research is needed prior to implementation of a conservation plan. Additional information is needed regarding the specific ecological niche of the species. Niche modelling is required to better determine the regions where the species may occur, where socioeconomic conditions present the greatest threat to available habitat, and where the species could be successfully re-introduced. Future research should concentrate on the gathering of baseline data on the extent of availability, refinement of methods for cultivation and propagation, and long-term monitoring of population dynamics (size and age composition, density, frequency, abundance, seed dispersal and survival, etc.) and population trends throughout the species’ range.

Legal protections which may benefit the species include implementation and enforcement of sustainable collection protocols and quotas intended to deter illegal markets, and designation of areas of natural habitat to local communities for management of harvest. Educational efforts including elevation of public awareness surrounding the threats to the species, and dissemination of best practices for harvest (especially the sustainable harvest rate) are also needed. Given the rapid declines noted range wide, ex situ measures may also be warranted including development of seed banks, and cryopreservation.