Reducing medicinal plant illegal harvesting through cultivation and good governance
Key Facts
FUNDING SCHEME Main
VALUE £377,470
WHERE South Africa
Summary
Approximately 70,000 tonnes of illegally harvested medicinal plants are traded or used in South Africa annuallyi This integrated project aims to reduce pressures on wild populations of selected medicinal plant species by scaling up ex-situ cultivation, incorporating previously excluded traders and harvesters, and strengthening governance capacity with communities situated near selected populations to improve harvesting controls and management of these vital biocultural resources. We will also increase diversity of species available for cultivation by traditional healers, traders, harvesters, and communities.
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.
