BuaNews (Tshwane)
René-Jean Van Der Berg
19 January 2004
Kimberley — The future of one of Northern Cape's most important medicinal plants, the Harpagophytum Procumbens DC, or the Devil's Claw, as it is more popularly known, has been given a huge boost by 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 40 plants.
This was decided by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, Environment and Conservation in the Northern Cape, to whom the survival of this precious plant is very important.
Spokesperson for the department Thabo Mothibi said in a statement the introduction of permit conditions for the harvesting of Devil's Claw in the Northern Cape was 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.
"There was a sharp increase in the demand for the 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," Mr Mothibi said.
According to the Northern Cape Government Gazette (Vol. 10, No. 802) the permit applicant should provide proof of consent from the landowner on whose property the 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 the collection of plants.
The department said the permit applicant should not harvest from November through to February as was the period in which flowering and seed set normally took place.
The same area should also not be harvested again for the following three years, while only secondary tubers may be harvested.
Mr Mothibi further added that the prescribed harvesting methods must always 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," Mr Mothibi said.
The Devil's Claw has gained popularity since the 1900's, when it was recognized as having valuable analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties to assist in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis.
It was therefore no surprise that its demand steadily increased since the 60s, leading to the export of the dried tubers to Europe and other countries, making it a much sought-after product outside of Africa.
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