Sustainable trade in wildlife products

What we do

This programme co-ordinates research and surveys of animal and plant species that are in trade or are utilized, and the development of management tools to facilitate sustainable use. Projects are undertaken in collaboration with a number of partner organizations. Current projects include:

• Population status, reproductive biology and population demography of Aloe peglerae.
• Ecology, population biology and utilization of Aloe plicatilis.
• National resource assessments for Pachypodium bispinosum and Pachypodium succulentum.
• Resurvey of priority Encephalartos species in Mpumalanga.
• Species identification tool for law enforcement officers.

Where we work

Current projects are active in Gauteng, North West Province, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga.

Reason for our programme

Part of SANBI's mandate is to generate knowledge and disseminate information on the sustainable use of biological resources. A relatively large number of South African species are still traded from wild sources. The trade in species includes traditional medicinal use, as well as general medicinal use (e.g. hoodia, devils claw), trade for specialist collections (e.g. cycads, succulents, reptiles), and hunting and fishing. It is necessary to understand how these species respond to harvest from the wild as well as the dynamics that affect sustainable use of these species.

There are also regulatory requirements, such as the Threatened or Protected Species regulations (ToPS) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), where information on species is needed. This work is being co-ordinated as part of SANBI's commitments to the Scientific Authority.

What we have achieved

The SANBI Species ID Tool is a decision support and easy reference tool that will assist customs officials, law enforcement officers, border police and environmental management inspectors with the identification of South African ToPS- and CITES-listed species.

Who we are

The programme is co-ordinated by Michèle Pfab, the Scientific Co-ordinator of the Scientific Authority. Partner organizations include the University of the Witwatersrand, Tshwane University of Technology, Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency and TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa.

For more information

Contact Michèle Pfab