Dr John Donaldson

Devil's Claw in South Africa: Conservation and Livelihood Issues

A typical Tswana homestead in South Africa's North West Province where Devil's Claw harvesting takes place. Photo Chris Fell, Resource Africa.

Two men from the Devil's Claw Harvesting Group harvesting secondary tubers using a sustainable harvesting technique. Photo Chris Fell, Resource Africa.

Town/RegionCountryCategoriesDate
Northern Cape Province
North West Province
Limpopo Province		South AfricaAfrica, Plants14 Aug 2002

Devil's Claw is a medicinal plant found in southern Africa. Since the 1960's there has been an export trade to Europe where it is valued for its analgesic and anti-inflamatory properties. In recent years the trade has grown rapidly and is now worth up to US$1m annually.

However there are now growing concerns about the sustainablity of this trade and the conservation status of the plant.

The four main aims of this project are:

-To determine the distribution of Devil's Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) in South Africa;

-To determine the amount of Devil's Claw currently being harvested in South Africa;

-To determine how many and which South Africans are harvesting this plant, and what role this plays in their livelihoods;

-To develop policy recommendations to ensure the sustainable use of Devil's Claw.

Project Update: November 2002

• Project participants met in Johannesburg on 28 August 2002 to co-ordinate activities between the different agencies. (David Newton – Traffic; John Donaldson – NBI; Domitilla Raimondo – NBI; Carla van der Vyfer – NW Province Conservation; Barney Dickson – F.F.I.; Chris Fell – Resource Africa)

• Resource Africa (one of the project participants) was involved with the show casing of the “ Thago Ke Polo” Sustainable Harvest of Devil’s Claw project from North West Province at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The showcase was used to raise funds for providing harvesters with field equipment, e.g. shade cloth, gloves and to raise funds for community members to start cultivation

• The latest harvest figures indicate that Devil’s Claw trade has increased dramatically in South Africa (North West Province) from ca 20 tonnes in 2000-2001 harvest season to ca 90 tonnes in the 2001-2002. This means that South Africa is now a significant player in the Devil’s Claw trade.

• The 12th meeting of the Plants Committee of the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) accepted a report on trade in DC from the southern African Range States and made several recommendations that will be discussed at the next Conference of the Parties (Chile, November 2002). The outcomes of the Rufford Grant project will provide essential information and support for this process.

1. Range States will need to supply follow up reports on the Biological Status and Management regulations for Devil’s Claw before the 14th Plants Committee meeting in 2004. The Rufford Grant project will form the basis of the South African report.
2. The CITES Plant’s Committee recognised that promotion of trade in cultivated material may have a negative impact on poor rural communities and therefore supported efforts to encourage the industry to use sustainably harvested wild material.
3. The Secretariat will provide information to the range states regarding the implications of a Appendix III listing

• North West Province hosted a stakeholder workshop on Devil’s Claw from 7-9 October 2002. The workshop was run over two days and allowed stakeholders to share information and to discuss the development of a National Devils Claw working group and a national action plan. The workshop will contribute to the development of national policy on DC.

Final Report

Read about the activities undertaken and findings of this project in the final report below.

File DownloadSize
Detailed Final Report.doc48.5 KB

Other Projects in: