Page 19 - Landscape-Issue147

FEATURE

Seized Clivias
succulents, Clivias are difficult to keep
alive.
Nurseries and greenhouses to accom-
modate seized specimens have been spon-
sored by non-governmental organisations.
The Richtersveld Transfrontier Park has
opened a succulent nursery and display
garden as part of the newly established
Richtersveld Desert Botanical Garden.
In January 2024, ENACT and SANBI
convened a workshop to explore the
possibilities of expanding the legal plant
trade to counter the illegal market. SANBI
then submitted a proposal to include
ornamental succulent plants in South
Africa’s National Biodiversity Economy
Strategy.
Other options include selling seized
plants to fund the response, and working
The illegal trade of Clivia mirabilis could wipe out the species with nurseries to scale their international
exports. Legal trade is also being considered
as a way to counter the illicit Clivia market.
Clivias were seized alongside succulents distribution and trade of Namibian species. However, resources to implement the
in the western Cape in October 2023. By They seem to specifically target wild plants response remain very limited, with too
August 2024, over 4600 Clivias had been from southern and eastern Africa, and even few experts, staff and tools to prevent and
seized. Somalia. address the problem. Thousands of seized
Like succulents, Clivias are harvested plants die due to lack of infrastructure
for their ornamental appeal and fetch Efforts made and local people who have been upskilled
remarkable prices from collectors Key efforts in South Africa have included to assist can’t be retained due to funding
and breeders. Demand seems to be building government capacity to identify, shortages.
concentrated mainly in China, and the counter and prosecute the illegal trade. A new draft Biodiversity Bill provides for
plants are supplied by local and foreign Sniffer dogs have been trained to find plant emergency measures to protect species.
harvesters and intermediaries, often from material, and network analysis is underway However legal processes, such as protected
neighbouring southern African countries to pinpoint senior individuals involved in area declarations and protected species
and Asia. Intermediaries export the plants the illegal supply chain. listings in legislation, are too slow to keep
via various African countries including A priority has been inter-provincial and up with the illegal market.
Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania. cross-border law enforcement cooperation. The northern Cape’s capacity to address
A recent joint operation aimed to the onslaught is still very limited, causing
SA and Namibia improve collaboration between national the western Cape to shoulder the burden
South Africa isn’t facing the illegal plant departments and the western, northern of the response. More engagement is also
trade alone. In Namibia, plants are and eastern Cape provinces. needed with the countries where southern
disappearing and popping up on the same In addition to different entities Africa’s plants are sold, even if the species
online retail sites as illegally harvested monitoring the online trade, where many aren’t yet internationally protected.
plants from South Africa, Madagascar and plants are sold, the Royal Botanic Gardens
other countries in the region. According in Kew, UK, is working with eBay to prevent, Acknowledgement
to law enforcement, Namibian plants are identify and report illegal plant sales on This article was first published by ENACT in
exported illegally since Namibia is not its site. Similar work is planned with other ISS Today on 6 January 2025, and has been
currently issuing permits for succulents. The online platforms, including in Asia. reproduced here with their permission.
plants are then sold or laundered through Evidence handling has been https://issafrica.org/iss-today/rare-
Asia and sold in countries like the United streamlined to allow plants to be cared clivias-targeted-in-southern-africa-s-
States. for pending prosecutions and, as with evolving-illegal-plant-trade
Namibian plants also transit through succulents, efforts are underway to
neighbouring countries and are often care for seized Clivias. Like succulents, (*) ENACT is funded by the EU and implemented
exported abroad from Tanzania. Law these Clivias can’t be returned to their by the Institute for Security Studies in partnership
enforcement officials indicated that natural habitat until there are successful with Interpol and the Global Initiative against
Tanzanians play a significant role in the restoration protocols. But unlike seized Transnational Organised Crime. n

Check us out www.salandscape.co.za Landscape SA • Issue 147 2025 17