AFRICA wants to see an internationally legal binding regime in place to ensure that the continent benefits from its biodiversity.

This was said by Environment and Tourism Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at Mahango in the Kavango Region recently. She said access to Africa's resources should benefit those communities where such resources are found.

"It must have a long-term benefits to the communities. Whether it is used raw or being processed into medicine or cosmetics," she said. These resources include the Devil's Claw and Hoodia gordonii plants.

The root of Devil's Claw is believed to relieve pain and inflammation in people with arthritis. The Hoodia gordonii plant is believed to suppress appetite.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia would host an African Ministers' Conference on Access Benefit Sharing in relation to Africa's biodiversity from March 8 to 10.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said the harvesting of useful plants such as Devil's Claw could create job opportunities and reduce poverty in rural areas. Communities living near the Bwabwata National Park are allowed to collect Devil's Claw in the park, she said.

This year alone, 530 harvesters have been registered, trained and will be monitored during the harvesting process.

"Most of the harvesters are women and the elderly, who can expect to receive between $800 and N$1 000 each for their harvests, clearly demonstrating how our national parks are helping to reduce poverty in some of our most marginalised areas, while measures are taken to protect our precious biodiversity," she said.

She said to ensure suitable use of the country's natural resources,we need to invest in value addition to Devil's Claw, so that it cannot only be sent out as a raw product."