How a Small Berry Brings Big Benefits to Communities in the Himalaya

High up in the Himalaya-a mile or more above sea level-lives a star of the plant world: sea buckthorn. The world's tallest mountain range offers an ideal habitat for this fast-growing, thorny, shrub-like tree covered in yellow and orange berries. Known locally as chharma, sea buckthorn is used in medicine, food, and beauty products. It also plays an important part in the region's ecosystem.

This year, World Wildlife Day is shining a light on medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) like sea buckthorn and their roles in conserving health, heritage, and livelihoods. Millions of people rely on MAPs and other non-timber forest products for their health and livelihoods. Approximately 50,000-70,000 MAP species are harvested globally as sources of food, medicine, and income. At the same time, MAPs promote healthy ecosystems by stabilizing soils, strengthening biodiversity, and supporting pollinators.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded, World Bank-led Global Wildlife Program (GWP) brings together 38 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean to combat illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade; promote wildlife-based economies, such as those supported by MAPs; and enable human-wildlife coexistence. In India, the GWP India SECURE Himalaya project strengthened value chains for MAPs like sea buckthorn to benefit local communities and conserve biodiversity.

Other GWP projects in Asia have focused on strengthening opportunities for ecotourism and wildlife-based economies. For example, the GWP Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism project (CSLEP) led by the World Bank formed community groups to help promote non-timber forest product value chains for blue mussels and bamboo.

"By protecting Cambodia's forests, the CSLEP is safeguarding more than biodiversity-it is preserving the medicinal and aromatic plants that sustain rural health traditions, cultural heritage, and community livelihoods. Conserving these forests means safeguarding the well-being of people and nature together." -Navy Nop, Natural Resources Management Specialist, The World Bank

Sea Buckthorn Provides Economic and Environmental Benefits

Fresh sea buckthorn berries and syrup. Photo: elena_hramowa - stock.adobe.com

Sea buckthorn is a well-established commercial product in India. Local and tribal communities across the Himalaya cultivate it for food, medicine, and beauty products for themselves and others, selling the plant parts and products in both informal and formal markets. For example, tribal communities in the state of Himachal Pradesh use traditional methods to produce sea buckthorn berry tea, jam, wine, and pickles.

In addition to its economic benefits, sea buckthorn rehabilitates degraded landscapes and slopes. With its ability to thrive in extreme conditions, it can help mitigate disaster and prevent habitat loss across the Indian Himalayan Region.

Sea Buckthorn Removal Threatens People and Wildlife

Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh, India. Photo: Roop_Dey - stock.adobe.com

Despite their many benefits, 9% of MAP species are threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List. Overharvesting, habitat loss, climate change, and unregulated or illegal international trade are the main threats to MAPs globally.

Not everyone recognizes the value of sea buckthorn. As demand for it has increased, so too have threats against it. In many areas of the Indian Himalayan Region, sea buckthorn has been removed in favor of other land uses, often resulting in land degradation-putting communities' health, heritage, and livelihoods at risk along with the environment. It's not just people who suffer when sea buckthorn is removed; snow leopards and their prey depend on the healthy ecosystems that the plants support.

GWP India Strengthened MAP Value Chains to Benefit Communities and Snow Leopards

Snow leopards in India. Photo: David - stock.adobe.com

The GWP India SECURE Himalaya project was supported by the United Nations Development Programme as GEF Agency and executed by India's Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. It aimed to promote the sustainable management of alpine pastures and forests in high-range Himalayan ecosystems to conserve globally significant wildlife, including the endangered snow leopard and its habitat, ensuring sustainable livelihoods and socioeconomic benefits for communities.

To this end, the project worked to strengthen value chains for sea buckthorn and other MAPs so they are beneficial to mountain communities. In particular, the GWP India SECURE Himalaya project trained local collectors and producer groups in sustainable harvesting, basic processing, and quality control of MAPs, and facilitated market linkages so communities can sell MAP products more directly and responsibly.

The project also helped communities cultivate MAPs like sea buckthorn more sustainably. The more than 250 Biodiversity Management Committees supported by the project ensure communities in Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas avoid overharvesting and land degradation, thus protecting their livelihoods as well as snow leopard habitats.