5 rare species that suffer the most from myths about the Carpathian panacea

November 28, 2023

For thousands of years, people have been looking for a panacea – a mythological universal remedy for all diseases. In the search for a panacea, many species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine continue to be mercilessly destroyed in the Carpathians until they almost completely disappeared even today.
There is a demand for these species, after all, poachers diligently support myths about universal cures for all diseases. On sale are not only various herbal tinctures of rare species, but also Carpathian vipers immersed in alcohol.

The sale of species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine is a violation of the law. But due to the inaction of law enforcement agencies and the State Environmental Inspection, this illegal business continues to flourish.

We have prepared for you a list of rare species that suffer the most from poaching
Rhodiola pink (Rhodiola rosea L.) or golden root (Rhodiola rosea L.). This plant is found only in the high mountain part of the Ukrainian Carpathians and is shrouded in legends and stories. Radiola grows slowly and produces a small number of seeds, only a small number of which will be able to germinate in the harsh climate and poor soil of the highlands. The first few years of a young plant’s life are spent mostly on the development of a strong root system, and only then are seeds more actively produced. In nature, seedlings bloom and bear fruit for the first time in the 10-15th year of life, and sometimes later. Adult plants (5-8 years old) are attractive to poachers. The high-altitude range of the species has now shrunk to a few small pockets.

ellow gentian or ginger (Gentiana lutea L.). Even poachers complain that the yellow tyrlich is increasingly difficult to find, and this explains the high price. But they stubbornly do not admit (or do not want to admit) that it is their illegal business that is one of the main reasons for the disappearance of this plant. The yellow tyrlich is found in the wild only in the highlands of the Ukrainian Carpathians, and is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. The reason for its disappearance is mass uncontrolled harvesting of rhizomes, along with slow growth and a small amount of seeds produced by the plant. The high mountain area of the species has been critically reduced and continues to decrease.

Amanita caesarea (Scop. ex Fr.) Pers. ex Schw.) . Another extremely rare species suffering due to poaching. It is found in Transcarpathia, Ivano-Frankivsk Region and Crimea. Listed in the Red Book of Ukraine with the status of “endangered”. Known in the Carpathians in several localities, where the local population intensively gathers.

Elder cuckoos (Dactylorhiza sambucina (L.) Soó) as a typical representative of the orchid family, of which more than 30 species can be found in the Carpathians alone in the meadows. All types of orchids are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Most of the local population does not distinguish between most species of the orchid family. Not only elder cuckoos are intensively collected, but also salep cuckoo, heart-bearing sedge, long-horned sedge, May sedge and others. Characteristic for palm rhizomes is the outline of the root, which resembles a person, and among cuckoos, the root resembles male testicles. Among the reasons for the disappearance, in addition to population gathering, are climate changes and the decline of traditional farming, in particular, the reduction of grazing and mowing, and as a result, the overgrowth of post-forest meadows.

Icelandic moss – although this species is not yet listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, its collection causes significant damage to the nature of the Carpathians. Due to slow growth and a small range of its growth in Ukraine, the number of species is decreasing. In addition, often the very method of its collection is a crime – Iceland moss in the Ukrainian Carpathians is mostly collected in protected areas, which is a violation of the law, and the barbaric method of collection leads to the destruction of a large number of red book plant species in this territory.

Cultivation of some of these species (in particular radioles and cypresses) is successful and could meet market demand. However, these issues are not regulated by law, which encourages impunity.
Support local communities, buy local traditional products, but approach their choice consciously so as not to contribute to the destruction of the Carpathian wildlife.
But we will not be able to preserve the wild nature of Ukraine if we do not win. We urge you to support your country by all possible means. We would like to remind you that the 3rd event is currently underway, which the NGO Danube-Carpathian Program announced together with the NGO “Bili Horvati” at the event for 3-year-olds. All the details are in the first comment and in the previous post on our page.

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5 rare species that suffer the most from myths about the Carpathian panacea

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