81 



Comments Submitted to the 

 Environment and Natural Resources Sub-Committee 



re: 



Medicinal Uses of Plants & 



Their Protection Under the 



Endangered Species Act 



by 

 Roy Upton, Herbalist 



on behalf of: 



American Herbalists Guild 



Box 1683 • Soquel, Ca. • 95073 



Tel/FAX: 408-462-2441 



November 9, 1993 



Introduction to the American Herbalists Guild 



The American Herbalists Guild (AHG) is the only peer review, professional association 

 of medical herbalists in the United States. Our primary goal is to actively help develop and 

 foster a high level of education, proficiency, skill and ethics among herbalists. Part of our 

 mission statement includes the promotion of an ecologically environment and to increase 

 awareness concerning the inter-dependence of all life, especially the plant-human relationships. 



To help fulfill this goal, the American Herbalists Guild participated in a survey of 

 medical herbalists nationwide in developing a list of medicinal plants that can be substituted 

 for plants that are more sensitive. A future project is the development of the Extra 

 Pharmacopoeia which will be a compendium of little-used, but commonly available herbs that 

 will help likewise lessen the burden on sensitive species . We also are concerned with the 

 impact of harvesting on native stands. Whereas a skilled and experienced "wildcrafter" can 

 actually increase the proliferation of plant populations, an inexperienced or insensitive gatherer 

 can destroy plant populations. However, destruction of habitat is far and away the most serious 

 threat to native plant populations, and more serious consideration must given with regards to 

 the environmental impact of further development. 



