Safeguarding southern Africa's succulents through analysing demand and supply networks
Key Facts
FUNDING SCHEME Evidence
VALUE £100,000
WHERE South Korea, South Africa
Summary
South Africa is experiencing a succulent poaching crisis of unprecedented magnitude. In partnership with South African environmental state institutions, this project will combine sociological and criminological research in South Africa and South Korea with a consumer survey tool and focus groups to:1) characterise illicit supply networks from South Africa to South Korea; 2) analyse the demand for wild-harvested succulents in South Korea; and 3) evaluate opportunities to promote sustainable alternatives in South Africa through legal and regulated succulent trade.
Over 600 arrests and more than 500 convictions in wildlife crime since 2017, alongside a decline in ivory trafficking cases and an increase in elephant and rhino populations.
