From Garden to Market? The cultivation of native and introduced medicinal plant species in Cajamarca, Peru and implications for habitat conservation

Large amounts of medicinal plants are sold in the markets of Trujillo and Chiclayo, two cities on the north coast of Peru. However, a large percentage of this material comes from the Peruvian highlands, most notably from the Department of Cajamarca. Although prior studies indicate that at least some material, mostly introduced species, is grown in home-gardens on the coast, the origin of the vast bulk of the plants was unclear. The present study reports on medicinal plants grown, collected and sold in the Cajamarca region. Only 42 plant species, 34 of them indigenous, were sold in the local markets. In contrast, 76 species (25 introduced, 51 indigenous) were found in local gardens or were cultivated by vendors. Of these however, only five species were commonly cultivated in the home-gardens studied, and 11 were grown by plant vendors. All but three of the commonly cultivated species were introductions. Contrary to the initial assumption, increasing plant demand in the large coastal markets has not led to significant cultivation of medicinal plants in home-gardens. The vast bulk of the plant material sold in the markets of Northern Peru represents plants collected in the wild. No data are available as to whether this massive harvest is sustainable or not. Resumen Cantidades grandes de plantas medicinales se venden en los mercados d Trujillo y Chiclayo, dos ciudades en la costa norte del Peru. Sin embargo, un porcentaje grande de este material viene de la sierra peruana, principalmente del departamento de Cajamarca. Aunque estudios previos indican que por lo menos una porcion del material, mayormente especies introducidas, es cultivado en jardines caseros en la costa, el origen de la vasta mayoria de las plantas no fue muy claro. El estudio actual reporta sobre las plantas medicinales cultivadas, coleccionadas y vendidas en la region de Cajamarca. Solamente 42 especies, de las cuales 34 son indigenas, se vendieron en los mercados locales. En contraste, 76 especies (25 introducidas, 51 indigenas) fueron ubicadas en los jardines locales o cultivadas por los vendedores. De estos, sin embargo, solamente cinco especies fueron cultivadas comunmente en los jardines caseros estudiados, y 11 fueron cultivadas por los vendedores de plantas. Solamente tres de las especies comunmente cultivadas no fueron introducidas. Al contrario de la presuncion inicial, la demanda incrementada para plantas en los mercados grandes de la costa no se ha resultado a una cultivacion significante de plantas medicinales en los jardines caseros. La vasta mayoria de las plantas vendidas en los mercados del Peru Septentrional representa plantas coleccionadas en un estado silvestre. No hay datos disponibles para indicar si esta cosecha masiva es sostenible o no.