By Zimkita Mavumengwana
In an exciting initiative spearheaded by a small team from the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), a groundbreaking project aimed at conserving medicinal plant species across parts of southern Africa has delivered impactful results. In collaboration with colleagues from Eswatini and Mozambique, and supported by the IUCN SSC Southern African Plant Specialist Group, this project responded to an urgent call to develop strategies for the sustainable use of cross-border traded medicinal plants.
The project focused on three key species: the Critically Endangered Wild Ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus), the Endangered Heartleaf Ministar (Alepidea cordifolia), and the Vulnerable Pepper Bark Tree (Warburgia salutaris). These plants are highly valued in traditional medicine but have seen significant declines due to overharvesting and habitat loss, especially as trade in these species crosses borders between South Africa, Eswatini, and Mozambique.
Pic: Nokukhanya Mhlongo
Understanding the Trade and gathering data
Fieldwork conducted in 2023 and 2024 revealed the urgent need for conservation efforts. In Eswatini, only small populations of these species could be found, with many sites either heavily impacted by invasive species or overharvesting. Traditional healers confirmed that local availability of these plants has drastically diminished, pushing them to source materials from neighboring countries. In Mozambique, the situation was similarly concerning, with reports from local traders and communities highlighting the scarcity of these vital plants. This collaboration provided new insights into the status of medicinal plants traded across borders, contributing to the development of regional strategies aimed at reversing population declines and protecting vulnerable ecosystems and communities.
A collaborative approach to sustainable use
One of the core objectives of the project was to explore the feasibility of cultivating these species to reduce pressure on wild populations across the region. Partners from Eswatini’s Swaziland Homeopathy Project have been engaged with traditional healers in Eswatini for several years on small-scale, home-based propagation efforts, and SANBI have also successfully engaged local South African communities on at-home propagation of several threatened medicinal plants in recent years. Building on these efforts and working closely with Mozambique’s Eduardo Mondlane University, this project afforded resources to expand on the distribution of propagated seedlings of Siphonochilus aethiopicus and Warburgia salutaris in Eswatini and South Africa as well as to initiate engagements with resource users in Mozambique. Workshops held in the three countries engaged traditional healers, gatherers, and community members, fostering valuable discussions on the sustainable use, including cultivation of these medicinal plants. Learnings from the project has once again underscored the importance of investing in the development of new relationships and the maintenance of existing ones with resource users to ensure these species and the benefits they provide are not lost to future generations.
Pic: Nokukhanya Mhlongo
Building a future of sustainable trade
The project also informed long-term conservation strategies through the development of a regional action plan for the sustainable use of medicinal plants. This plan, informed by the field data and community insights, will serve as a roadmap for ensuring that these species remain part of the rich biodiversity of southern Africa while supporting the livelihoods of those who depend on them. As a model of cross-border collaboration, this project highlights the importance of regional cooperation in tackling shared environmental challenges. It is a testament to the power of bringing together conservationists, researchers, traditional knowledge holders, and communities to protect southern Africa’s medicinal plants.
Pic: Nokukhanya Mhlongo
This project, made possible by funding from the Indianapolis Zoo Conservation Grant, marks a significant step forward in the conservation of medicinal plants in southern Africa. The partnerships formed and the knowledge gained will continue to inform conservation strategies in the region, ensuring that medicinal plants remain a vital resource for future generations.