The appropriate climatic conditions in some areas of Albania enable the collection of some medicinal and aromatic herbs for which there is a high demand in the market.
Currently, Albania ranks among the leading Mediterranean countries for the export of medicinal and aromatic herbs.
The list of these plants includes plants such as sage, thyme, oregano, mountain tea, wild apple, wild rose, primrose, black dwarf, stomach, nettle, poppy, salep, chamomile, plaster etc.One of the most endangered plants is the Albanian Salepi, botanically known as "Orchis Morio".
Along with mountain tea, the Albanian salepi is included in the "Red Book" of plants that are endangerd of the disappearance.
The Prohibition of the European Union
The European Union has forbidden by law the rupture of orchids. From the root of which the salep is obtained, while has not stopped the import of these plants.
This move by European Union countries has followed the crisis situation to countries excluded from this legislation. They have begun massive exports, endangering the life of this plant in a natural state.
Unlike the large production countries of this product, Albanian Salep is not cultivated. It grows wild in nature, this is for is also sought by developed countries such as Germany and France.
In Albania the Salep is sold by the collector by $ 20 to the small distributor. Who sells it to the big distributor by 25 dollars.
The latter purifies and packs the Salep and then comes out in the Albanian market with $ 40 and in the foreign market much more than that.
Dibra and Pogradec are the areas with the largest presence of wild Salep. But the latter is also found in other areas of the country in the least amount.
Erosion and measures that must be taken
But beyond the destructive hand of man, salepi and other wild medicinal plants also face the emergence of mass erosion. As in Lura, Debar, Puka, Vau i Dejës, Koman, Çermenik, Poliçan, Berat, Pogradec, Saranda, Kukës, etc.
This erosion is largely caused by deforestation and the opening of new lands.
Also, a large number of plants have been exploited without criterion. As is the case of the Albanian Salep, leading to the emergence of plant genetic erosion, where many plants are towards extinction.
At this point, the measures to be taken relate to stopping the collection of some plants that are in danger of extincion. As well as increasing the probability of their cultivation.
This would also lead to increased employment opportunities for the rural population. As well as putting under exploitation of fallen lands, preventing their erosion.
The risk of disappearance
As a result of over-utilization and misuse of harvest techniques, many species of medicinal plants are listed as endangered plants. Unfortunately, there are mountain tea, salepi, sanza, red wine, blueberries, red juniper, black juniper, oregano, wild rose, apricot, etc.
Although several international conventions on biodiversity protection have been signed by Albania, relevant legislation has been drafted for their protection and there are a number of actors involved in the management of these plants, again, defending and exploiting them in a rational and sustainable manner is very hard.