NCAPE STRIKES DEVILS CLAW BREAKTHROUGH

The future survival of one of the Northern Cape’s most important medicinal plants, Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens DC), has been given a huge boost through the laying-down of permit conditions regarding large-scale harvesting of the plant in the province. Large-scale harvesting is deemed to be the harvesting of more than fourty plants.

The introduction of these permit conditions for Devil’s Claw harvesting in the Northern Cape is a pro-active step to ensure its long-term survival, and to protect its sustainable commercial use as a natural medicine through the prevention of over-exploitation. It should be noted that there was a sharp increase in the demand for Devil’s Claw as a natural medicine and it was estimated that in 2002 more than two million plants were collected from the wild to meet the international demand.

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, Environment and Conservation wants to emphasise that the introduction of these permit conditions are purely designed to control large-scale harvesting and utilization (especially in case for commercial use) and would thus not apply to subsistence living scenarios.

People or organizations intending to engage in large-scale harvesting of Devil’s Claw now need to apply for permits. This, according to the Northern Cape Government Gazette (Vol. 10, No. 802), requires the permit applicant to provide proof of consent from the landowner on who’s property harvesting will take place, as well as the submission of a Resource Assessment and Management Report (RAMR).

The written consent from the landowner, or Memorandum of Agreement, must stipulate the landowner was informed of the reasons for collection.

Furthermore, the RAMR must be conducted by an independent consultant and such a report should contain specific data on the population status of Devil’s Claw where harvesting is intended. The consultant, in the RAMR, must answer the following questions: Where is harvesting planned?; how much of the resource is available?; what proportion of the resource will be harvested?; what will the impact of the harvesting be on the population status of the plant in the harvesting area?; what impact will the harvesting activities have on the area where harvesting will take place?; and if public participation was solicited in this regard? The RAMR should also describe the monitoring and mitigation measures with regard to environmental and/or social impacts which the permit applicant intends to implement. Lastly, the RAMR should stipulate any community development and capacity building that will form part of or flow from harvesting activities.

Permit applicants should note that only prescribed harvesting methods must be implemented. These methods may only be allowed to be altered upon the Director of the provincial conservation authority’s approval, and if sufficient scientific proof indicates that the current method is ineffective and insufficient.

Permit applicants should further note that no harvesting will be allowed from November through to February as this is the period in which flowering and seedset normally takes place. The same area may also not be harvested again for the next three years, while only secondary tubers may be harvested. It is expected of the permit applicant to replant the primary tubers in the prescribed manner while all holes should be properly filled after harvesting.

Permit applicants can obtain a copy of the permit conditions from the Directorate of Conservation’s Permit Section by dialing 053-807-4800 or posting a request to Private Bag X5018, Kimberley 8300 South Africa.

Since the early 1900’s, Devil’s Claw came under the spotlight of modern medical scientists who recognized it had valuable analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties to assist in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis. It was therefore no surprise that the demand for Devil’s Claw steadily increased since the sixties, exporting the dried tubers to Europe and other countries, making it a much sought-after product outside of Africa.

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Issued by:

Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, Environment and Conservation

Directorate of Conservation

Enquiries: Thabo Mothibi 083 255 8840 – Elsabè Powell (053) 8074800