KULOB, September 5, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- On Thursday September 4, the Kulob prosecutor’s office issued warrant to arrest director of local limited liability company Kova, Qurbonali Gulmurodov, for illegal gathering of ferula, which is listed in Tajikistan’s Red Data Book as rare and endangered species.   

Qurbonali Gulmurodov faces charges of illegal entrepreneurship, illegal tree cutting, and embezzlement or misappropriation.

According to Alfattoh Roziqov, deputy Khatlon prosecutor in charge of the Kulob region, it is the second warrant against Gulmurodov.  In May 2007, he was detained for the first time for illegal gathering of ferula. 

“In December 2006, Kova received license from the former Committee for Environmental Protection for gathering of one ton of ferula in the Farkhor district,” said the deputy prosecutor, “However, instead of one ton they gathered 2.35 tons in the spring of 2007; moreover, 1.35 tons of the gathered ferula disappeared.”  By ruling, handed down by the Farkhor district court on may 31, 2007, Gulmurodov was put on probation for one year.  

Ferula (from Latin ferula, "rod") is a genus of about 170 species of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae, native to the Mediterranean region East to Central Asia, mostly growing in arid climates. They are herbaceous perennial plants growing to 1–4 m tall, with stout, hollow, somewhat succulent stems.  The leaves are tripinnate or even more finely divided, with a stout basal sheath clasping the stem.  The flowers are yellow, produced in large umbels.   Ferula has certain medicinal uses and most commonly is used as a digestive aid.