Yarsagumba collection in Dolpa permitted from May 19
Every year, hundreds of collectors travel to Dolpa's high Himalayan regions during the third week of April in preparation for the harvesting season.
KATHMANDU: The collection of the rare and valuable medicinal herb Yarsagumba will be officially permitted across Dolpa district from May 19 (Jestha 5), following a decision made during a multi-party, multi-stakeholder meeting held in Dunai, the district headquarters.
The meeting, chaired by Shyam Bahadur Rokaya, Chairperson of the District Coordination Committee, concluded that all alpine pastures (patans) in the region where Yarsagumba is found will be open to collectors for a one-month period.
The meeting was jointly organized by Shey-Phoksundo National Park and the Division Forest Office, and included decisions regarding the opening, conservation, and management of the Yarsagumba collection season.
Every year, hundreds of collectors travel to Dolpa’s high Himalayan regions during the third week of April in preparation for the harvesting season.
This year, the pastures will close again on June 19 (Ashad 5), marking the end of the collection period.
Strict security arrangements have been implemented in the Yarsa pastures by the forest and park authorities. Collectors are required to pay entry fees to access different areas.
Shey-Phoksundo National Park will collect entrance fees for its core and buffer zones, while community forests in buffer areas are permitted to collect service fees separately.
Entry Fees:
Local residents of the park’s core and buffer zones: Rs 500
Residents from within Dolpa district: Rs 2,000
Residents from outside Dolpa: Rs 3,000
Additionally, if a collector enters another community forest from a different one, they must pay an additional Rs 500 as a service fee to the respective forest.
In areas under the Division Forest Office, community forests will be responsible for collecting the entry fees.
The meeting concluded with 11 major decisions, aimed at ensuring sustainable harvesting, fairness, and community benefit.
District Coordination Committee Chairperson Rokaya expressed confidence that the decisions would be effectively implemented for the benefit of all stakeholders.
