Sustainability certifications and wild plant trade from Nepal to India: barriers and opportunities

Journal article

Overharvesting of wild medicinal plants threatens species and livelihoods. In Nepal, the export of wild plants provides an essential income for communities, and effective management is needed to prevent unsustainable harvest. One intervention to reduce overharvest is voluntary certification, in which plant collection operations are guaranteed by outside parties to be meeting ethical and environmental standards. The largest export market for Nepali high-altitude wild plants is India, but certification schemes are often targeted at the niche Western market, limiting potential impact. Here, we use the certification of collection operations for the Critically Endangered species jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi) by the FairWild Foundation to investigate potential barriers to success, and acceptance of certified products in India. To investigate this, we conducted a rapid review of the literature on certification in the Indian market, and interviewed 11 key experts in the trade, including plant traders, academics, and non-governmental organisation (NGO) staff. We found that the primary barriers to impact are structural features of the wild plant trade, which are difficult to overcome. However, the rapid review of the literature showed that consumer disinterest in sustainability is likely not a major barrier to certification implementation in the main market, India. We recommend targeted research into consumer and trader behaviour and market structure, regarding sustainable wild plant products in India.

Authors: Rowe-Habbari, J; Bashyal, R; Hinsley, A

• Publication status: Accepted
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Journal: Oryx
• Acceptance date: 2025-11-03
• EISSN: 1365-3008
• ISSN: 0030-6053
• Language: English
• Keywords: wildlife trade; medicinal and aromatic plants