KATHMANDU, May 2: The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has issued the Yarsagumba Management (Collection and Transport) Directive – 2073.

At the initiative of the DNPWC, the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation pushed for the decision at the ministerial level to issue the directive for management of the rare plant cum insect bearing multiple values, according to Department’s Information Official, Narayan Rupakheti.

The parks and wildlife reserves rich in Yarsagumba include Kanchenjunga National Park, Makalu Barun National Park, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Shey Phoksundo National Park and Api Nampa Wildlife Conservation Area.

The Directive requires the person collecting Yarsagumba to pay Rs 500 to the people living within the conservation area, Rs 1000 to people of the same district living outside the conservation area and Rs 2000 in revenue to those outside of the district.

Only individuals above 16 years of age will be given permission to collect Yarsagumba which is found from the beginning of the month of June to mid July. The newly introduced regulation also requires the individual collecting the rare herb to seek permission of the concerned office to distribute and sale Yarsagumba. RSS