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  TRAFFIC 24 Apr 06
TRAFFIC works with Chinese leaders to promote the conservation of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Beijing, China... Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the most widely practiced traditional medicine system in the world. Its popularity is also growing in the West, where it is incorporated into many homeopathic and alternative remedies.

But many practitioners and consumers are not aware that some of the medicine may be threatening the survival of animals such as Tigers, rhinos, and plants, for example the wild-grown Asian Ginseng.

Together with habitat loss, poaching is the most immediate threat to the survival of Tigers, rhinos, bears, and musk deer, which are all heading towards extinction in the wild in Asia.

Poaching is exacerbated by the booming economies and growing wealth in many parts of Asia, which has increased not just the demand, but also prices for many wildlife products.

To help address this growing threat, representatives of the Chinese government and TRAFFIC East Asia - China Programme came together on March 28 for a workshop titled 'Relationship between Use and Conservation of Rare Animal Medicinal Resources'.

The workshop brought together key traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners and researchers, wildlife experts and government officials to discuss complex issues related to medicinal wildlife trade at a time when some significant medicinal species have only small populations surviving in the wild.

At the workshop, participants sought to address relations between conservation and use of rare wild medicinal resources; researching substitutes to reduce the use of rare animals and plants and their derivatives in medicines; and discussing the potential captive breeding may have as a mean to mitigate pressure on wildlife resources.

Participants also discussed the need to conduct scientific research on the actual effects of certain traditional Chinese medicines, especially on those that contain rare animal resources.

One expert from East China Normal University said, "There is a lack of scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of many traditional Chinese medicines. For example, there is no proof that Tiger bone is more effective than pig or goat bones as a pain reliever for joints."

In addition, representatives of major state-run TCM manufacturers introduced current trade procedures as pertaining to relevant laws and regulations prohibiting the use of rare animal medicinal resources.

For example, one recent, positive development discussed was a TCM labeling system introduced in May 2003 by the State Forestry Administration and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.

The labeling system aims to distinguish TCM containing legal wildlife ingredients from those of unsustainable and illegal origin.

Finally, Prof Qin Luping of the Second Military Medical University gave a presentation on how to initiate conservation awareness amongst students at traditional Chinese medicine universities.

"Awareness and action to address unsustainable consumption of wildlife derivatives is growing amongst China's traditional Chinese medicine community and those who regulate it," said Dr Xu Hongfa, Director of TRAFFIC's China Programme,

'But we all have a role to play. For example, consumers should ask retailers for evidence that the TCM they sell contain only ingredients that were collected sustainably or from cultivated specimens. By working together, we can ensure that both TCM and the species that are the source of some of its medicines can look to the future with renewed hope."
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