Juniper
Juniper is an evergreen shrub that can be grown around the world and is primarily exploited for its berries. It is a key ingredient in gin manufacturing and harvesting often occurs as a family activity. Top producers are located in Central and Eastern Europe (Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro).
Names
Juniper, Juniperus communis
Found in ingredients as
Juniper
Used in
Top producers
Central and Eastern Europe (Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro)
Conservation status
CITES:
IUCN Red List:
Not listed
Opportunities
Conservation & Restoration
Conservation of juniper can have a much wider effect on the network of unique species dependent on it, such as the gall fly.
Juniper is naturally resistant to drought. Its planting could benefit regions stricken by a changing climate.
Standards & Certification
Certifications can be a supporting tool to ensure responsible sourcing. A wide range of standards are available that can be applied to wild-harvested plants, such as FairWild, Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT), Fairtrade, FairForLife, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Organic, Rainforest Alliance, and Certificate of Origin (e.g. DOP/PDO, PGI, TCG).
FairWild and organic juniper are already on the market, and some producers have indicated their ability to gain certification if there was market demand.
Biological Risk
Regeneration is slow and the species is slow-growing. Seeds are slow to germinate and the berries takes 2-3 years to ripen.
Local population sizes range from medium to large but are not spread homogeneously across the species’ range.
Juniper has multiple well-documented uses.
Social Risk
Assessed for various countries throughout central and eastern Europe.
Several vulnerable groups such as Roma, the unemployed, the elderly, and women participate in juniper harvesting.
Rural-urban migration and a decrease of interest in wild plant harvesting is resulting in the loss of traditional knowledge and harvesting techniques for wild plants in eastern Europe.
There is some risk of child labour, especially in low-income, rural, or Roma communities; the risk varies by country