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Fight to save cycads and lilies
19/09/2002 14:02 - (SA)
Sharon Hammond
Malelane - Two of the world's most endangered plant species are very slowly being brought back from the brink of extinction at a rural nursery in Mpumalanga.
The Mlambo Community Cycad Nursery in the Mananga mountain area bordering northern Swaziland and southern Mozambique, is propagating lebombo cycads and Swazi lilies.
The nursery was initiated by the Mpumalanga Parks Board (MPB) four years ago after it found that at least half of all arrests made for cycad theft involved lebombo cycads, which are critically endangered.
A four-month survey of the Onderberg region also produced less than 12 Swazi lilies, also known as water impala lilies, which have pale mauve flowers and large, but poisonous underground tubers.
"About 80% of the lily's habitat has already been wiped out by development and the remaining 20% is being ploughed up for agricultural purposes," explains MPB conservationist, Gerhard Strydom.
The lily isn't doing well in protected areas either. Very few were found in the southern Kruger National Park and nearby Mawewe community reserve.
The lily is now one of 2 215 southern African plants listed as threatened on the red data list. The red data list is a global record of rare and endangered species.
Southern Africa has the third-highest number of endangered plant species in the world, after the United States and Australia. At least 53 plants have become extinct in the region in the past century.
The biggest threat to both the impala lily and lebombo cycad is poaching by syndicates that sell them on the black market.
Smaller threats are incorrect fire burning cycles that destroy seedlings, and damage done to the plants when traditional healers harvest muti.
Cycads are believed to have mystical powers, which bring prosperity and goodwill to the owner, while parts of the impala lily are used by traditional healers to treat stomach ailments.
The nursery employs community members who have learnt that the plants are valuable, not only ecologically, but because they can generate income through the legal sale of seedlings to the public.
The seeds are propagated to replenish wild plant populations and are also planted in blocks so that they can be harvested from the blocks instead of from the wild.
Young cycads are donated and planted at local schools to raise awareness among children. Once the plants produce seeds, the schools are encouraged to sell the seeds to the nursery, generating additional income.
On Arbour Day earlier this month, young cycads were handed out to members of the Mananga community to plant in their gardens.
Strydom is planning a comprehensive survey of all plant species in the area with the national botanical institute. - African Eye News Service
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