Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Question by Mr D W Bryant
With regard to the ongoing challenges that the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) continues to face relating to the poaching of succulent plants:
(1) (a) How many joint meetings have taken place in the past 12 months between CapeNature and the South African National Biodiversity Institute and/or other similar authorities to develop further plans to address succulent poaching and (b) which succulent species are currently the most under threat from poaching;
(2) whether any steps have been taken to address the matter with the main destination countries for the illegal export of poached succulents; if so, what are the relevant details
(1) (a) A Joint Task Team consisting of officials from CapeNature, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and the South African Police Service (SAPS) work together on addressing succulent plant poaching within the Province. The Joint Task Team has met twice in the past 12 months.
The Provincial Biodiversity Investigators Forum consisting of officials from CapeNature, SANParks, SANBI, SAPS Stock Theft and Endangered Species units, discuss cases, share information on suspects and plan joint operations to address plant poaching in the province. This Forum convened six meetings in the last 12 months.
- Currently the focus of plant poaching in the Western Cape, is on the miracle clivia, Clivia mirabalis, elephant's foot, Dioscorea elephantipes, several species of the Euphorbia family, Eriospermum species and numerous species of dwarf succulents belonging to the Conophytum genus. In the Klein Karoo region of the Succulent Karoo Biome, the main succulent plant poaching focus is currently on species in the Gibbaeum genus (volstruistone), duimpie-snuif, papegaaibek, vinger-en-duim, visbekvygie and volstruiswater) , and species of the stone plant/“vygie” family Mesembryanthemum, such as “kougoed’ (Scletium spp.)
The demand of species changes depending on the market demand.
(2) CapeNature is not aware of any specific steps taken to address the matter in destination countries. The Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce TRAFFIC, an international wildlife trade monitoring network, has numerous awareness raising operations in many destination countries.
Interventions to address the demand in destination countries, have been identified by the Multi-institutional Task Team as part of the National Response Strategy and Action Plan to address Succulent Plant Poaching, with recommendations for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to engage the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
