Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation

(Darren Dugan) #1
Rachel Wynberg 67

In 1999 renewed concerns about overharvesting and unsustainable methods
of harvesting, as well as the unauthorised harvesting on communal and private
lands, led to a reassessment of the situation and the issuance of the overarching
Policy on the Harvesting and Export of Harpagophytum by the Ministry of
Environment and Tourism. The policy stipulates a harvesting season from March
to October for both species of Harpagophytum, no permits being issued outside
of this period. Harvesting will be subject to a nontransferable permit valid for
the duration of the harvesting season and applicable for a particular locality
only. Permit holders, which may be individuals or a group, are required to
obtain the permission of the landowner prior to harvesting and are also required
to report the number of bags harvested, to whom such bags were sold and on
which dates. New permits will be issued only on receipt of such a report and
confirmation of compliance with sustainable harvesting techniques.
Furthermore, persons dealing (purchasing, transporting, selling, exporting,
importing) in Harpagophytum are required to register annually with the
ministry, to keep a register of all transactions, in collaboration with harvesters,
and to clearly distinguish between the two species of Harpagophytum in
reporting. Export permits are still required for the export of Harpagophytum,
to be accompanied by information on the origin of all material, as are
phytosanitary certificates. Permits are also required for any cultivation of
Harpagophytum, for research on the plant and for any feasibility studies into
cultivation. The policy also supports projects that add value to Harpagophytum
in the interest of national development. Decision-making is effected through
the Devil’s Claw Working Group, a stakeholder group set up in 1999, and the
government gives increasing recognition to the importance of maintaining a
sustainable trade in the plant.

TRENDS AND ISSUES

The Resource Base
Although the commercial harvesting of Harpagophytum can have negative
ecological impacts, evidence points towards the excellent potential of the plant
as a resource that can be harvested sustainably. However, this requires the
implementation of appropriate management practices and plans at local, regional
and national levels. These are to varying degrees already in place but, because
of the patchiness of the resource, are locally specific and often project specific,
hinging on the involvement of NGOs. A major constraint is the ability to monitor
and enforce harvesting and trade policies, particularly in remoter harvesting
areas. Little capacity exists within government, requiring adoption of innovative
approaches, including self-policing and monitoring by communities (van der
Vleuten 1998). This in turn requires capacity-building programmes at the local
level and an enhancement of existing extension services. A further constraint is
the lack of reliable information on the population status of Harpagophytum
species, which precludes effective resource management and points to the need
for systematic and comprehensive research.
Despite these constraints, there is increasing political will and growing
awareness of the importance of conserving devil’s claw and ensuring its
sustainable use. One of the beneficial effects of CITES proposals to list devil’s

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