Yarsagumba
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Yarsagumba (冬虫夏草), also known as caterpillar fungus, is a rare and valuable resource found in the high-altitude Himalayan regions. In Nepal, Yarsagumba thrives in areas like Dolpa, Manang, and other upper regions. This fungus is highly sought after, leading to resource conflicts and significant socio-economic impacts.
In recent years, reports have highlighted the tension and violence surrounding Yarsagumba collection. One such incident occurred in June a few years ago in the Manang district, where a group of local men and young boys collecting Yarsagumba clashed with suspected poachers. The conflict turned deadly as the poachers were beaten with sticks and stones, resulting in two deaths, with their bodies discarded into deep crevasses. By November 2009, six individuals were sentenced to life imprisonment, and 13 others were convicted as accomplices in these murders.
Dolpa District, which supplies approximately 40% of Nepal’s Yarsagumba, has also seen its share of violence. A tragic incident reported in the Dho Village Development Committee (VDC) area involved two men, Phurwa Tsering and Thundup Lama, who died during clashes between community members and police. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) noted that such robberies and violent conflicts occur annually in the Dolpa Highlands.
The Buffer Zone Management Committee (BZMC) of Shey-Phoksundo National Park and the local Dho committee have long been at odds over taxation and royalties collected from Yarsagumba harvesters. In recent years, the BZMC increased royalties by 300% and seized receipt books from the local committee, effectively barring them from collecting taxes. This decision led to heightened tensions, as locals protested the lack of government investment in sustainable management of Yarsagumba resources.
On June 3, during one such protest, police forces reportedly attacked villagers, resulting in two deaths, multiple injuries, and several arrests. Detained individuals claimed they were tortured and blackmailed into signing false statements asserting that one victim’s death was due to a fall rather than police brutality. Sey Namkha Dorje, a monk and chairperson of the Dolpo Concern Centre, stated that such violence was unprecedented in the region. An 83-year-old monk grandmother described the events as acts of cruelty.
The Nepalese Human Rights Commission has investigated the incident, but its report has yet to be released. In the same month, a gang reportedly stole cash and Yarsagumba worth 40 million Nepalese rupees from a camp in Phoksundo VDC. The AHRC noted that armed robberies in the Dolpa Highlands are an annual occurrence, often implicating local politicians and police in the illegal trade of Yarsagumba due to their lack of investigation and accountability.
A Nepali Times article highlights the corruption, lawlessness, and involvement of political criminals in the black market trade of Yarsagumba, underscoring the urgent need for reform and sustainable management of this precious resource.
The Asian Human Rights Commission said that robberies occur annually in the Dolpa Highlands. Buffer Zone Management Committee(BZMC) of Shey-Phoksundo National Park and the local Dho committee have collected taxes from yarsagumba collectors but this year BZMC hiked its royalties by300% and also seized the local committee’s receipt books and share of royalties sayingthat the village committeecould no longer collect taxes from yarsagumba pickers who harvested in their customary pastures. They had been threating to open up the lang meadows where locals graze their livestocks in winter because it is the only pasture not covered in snow to outside yarsagumba harvesters. Another grievance was the lack of government royalty money going into sustainable management of yarsagumba. On June 3, a protesting community was reportedly met with brutal police force. And attacked villagers, two killed, dozens injured and several detained and at least one of who reported being tortured in detention. Arrested people were also allegedly blackmailed with false murder charges until they signed a document attesting that phurwa died from falling off a cliff rather than from police brutality. According to Monk and chairperson of Dolpo Concern Centre Sey Namkha Dorje told that the region had never such violence before.83 year monk grandmother said that it was very cruelty. The Nepalese Human Rights Commission has investigated this incident but it is yet to release its report. In the same month, a gang rob cash and yarsagumba worth$ 40 million rupees from the camp within the Phoksundo VDC in Dolpa District. AHRC notes that gang robberies in the Dolpa highlands occur annually and these past incidents states : the involvement of cops and local politicians is strongly suspected in these armed gang robberies as there is inordinate laxity in investigation.
News of a gruesome crime emerged from the remote mountains of Nepal a few years ago. In Manang District, close to the Nepal – Tibet border, a large posse of local men and boys, upon hearing of interlopers picking yarsagumba in their meadows, beat two of the suspected poachers to death, throwing their bodies down a deep crevasse before rounding up the remaining five, reportedly killing them with sticks and stones. In November 2009, six men were sentenced to life imprisonment and 13 others were convicted as accomplices in the mass murders.
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