Central Appalachia, once known primarily for its coal mining, is becoming a vital source of medicinal herbs for North America. Beneath the rich, diverse broadleaf canopy of the region, the Appalachian Mountains are home to a vast array of native plants that have long been used for medicinal purposes. Now, these same communities that once relied on coal are leveraging their deep connection with the land to contribute to the country’s medicinal herb supply chain.
According to Shannon Bell, a sociology professor at Virginia Tech, the history of Appalachian people’s relationship with these botanicals goes back centuries, stretching from pre-colonization to the present day. “Many different Appalachian people, stretching from pre-colonization to today, have tended, harvested, sold, and used a vast number of forest botanicals like American ginseng, ramps, black cohosh, and goldenseal,” she said. These plants, which have long been integral to local livelihoods and traditions, are now gaining renewed significance as the herbal industry grows.
An astounding 50% of the medicinal herbs, roots, and barks in the North American herbal supply chain are native to the Appalachian Mountains, and a large portion of these species are harvested or grown in Central Appalachia. This region, which spans southern West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, far-southwest Virginia, and eastern Tennessee, is crucial to the industry. However, the demand for these botanicals has also raised concerns about the sustainability of these species, with organizations like United Plant Savers identifying some popular forest medicinals as species of concern due to declining populations.
In addition to being home to these botanicals, Appalachia is also where many of the herb gatherers themselves live. However, while the harvesting takes place within the region, much of the processing and commercialization happens elsewhere. This means that a significant portion of the profits leaves Appalachia, making it harder for local communities to fully benefit from their natural resources.
Shannon Bell’s research and advocacy work within these communities is aimed at changing that dynamic. In a press release, Bell reflected on how her passion for this field was sparked during the COVID-19 pandemic. “My family and I spent a lot of time in the woods behind our house during quarantine,” Bell shared. “We observed the emergence of all the spring ephemerals in the forest understory – hepatica, spring beauty, bloodroot, trillium, mayapple. I came to appreciate the importance of the region’s botanical biodiversity more than ever, and realized I wanted to incorporate this new part of my life into my research.”
Alongside her colleague John Munsell at Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment, Bell has been working on ways to help Central Appalachian communities retain more of the profits from the herbal industry. Their work focuses on ensuring that populations of at-risk forest botanicals not only survive but thrive in the region. This involves working closely with wild harvesters and local herb buyers through participant observation, interviews, and even a mail survey that Bell is conducting. Additionally, Bell piloted a ginseng seed distribution program and helped a wild harvester write a grant proposal to start a forest farm.
“Economic development in post-coal communities often focuses on other types of energy development, like fracking and natural gas pipelines, or on building prisons and landfills. Central Appalachia is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. I think that placing a greater value on this biodiversity is key to promoting a more sustainable future for the region,” Bell explained to the Virginia Tech press.
Her vision for a sustainable future is gaining traction, bolstered by a nearly half-million-dollar planning grant that she and her collaborators secured. This funding is aimed at developing forest farming in Central Appalachia, an initiative that seeks to provide both economic opportunities and environmental stewardship for the region.
Bell’s efforts have also attracted support from various stakeholders, including the nonprofit organization Appalachian Sustainable Development, Virginia Tech, the City of Norton, and a team of sculpture artists. Together, they are working on a unique project that aims to celebrate the region’s botanical history and highlight its potential for the future. At the Flag Rock Recreation Area in Norton, Virginia, they have developed a “living monument,” an interpretive trail that tells the story of Appalachia’s wild botanicals. This trail not only honors the historic uses of these plants by different Appalachian societies but also underscores the ongoing importance they hold in modern herbal medicine and sustainability efforts.
Through these combined efforts, Bell and her team hope to shift the economic narrative of Central Appalachia away from coal and toward a future where the region’s rich biodiversity is both preserved and valued. By empowering local communities to manage their botanical resources sustainably, they are helping to secure a more prosperous and resilient future for Appalachia.
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