GEORGE NEWS - Plant poaching has become a significant problem in the Western Cape, to the point where it threatens biodiversity.

On Thursday 29 August, Leon Rossouw of the Wildlife Crime Information Network (WCIN) collaborated with CapeNature, the police's stock theft and endangered species unit from Worcester, and Rupert Pretorius of the Community Police Forum (CPF) in George, to present a nature conservation ordinance workshop for law enforcement officials and members of the local police.

After the workshop, attendees performed a joint operation in the CBD where the focus was on the illegal trade in fauna and flora. Several stalls selling medicinal plants were visited. 

Two sellers at the stalls who had plants without the necessary documentation were arrested.

Plant poaching on the increase

According to the latest statistics, the Western Cape faces a huge challenge with plant poaching.
"There was a minor slowdown of succulent poaching during the hard lockdown, but since the lockdowns were stopped, there has been a major uptick in plant poaching and smuggling,” said Rossouw. 

“Over the past five years, there has been a dramatic rise in the global demand for collectable ornamental plants, mostly targeting SA’s succulent Karoo biome."

Plant poaching may be for medicinal use, the horticultural trade, or any other purpose for which plant material is removed from the wild. However, it remains illegal in South Africa to remove any indigenous plant material from the wild, transport it between provinces, or export it without the necessary government permits.

"The nature of the trade is such that there are plants that may become extinct in the wild soon since these plants have limited distribution and natural populations are being decimated. Sometimes large plants of more than 100 years old are illegally removed. From an ecological point of view, these large and other ancient mother plants that may only be the size of a man’s fist, play a critical role in the survival of species. In short, wild plants should stay where they belong, in the wild," said Rossouw.

Poaching and wildlife trafficking

Rossouw said poverty encourages people to put themselves at risk doing the dirty work for the end buyer.
WCIN joins hands with the conservation community and law enforcement agencies to help combat the plant poaching problem and raise community awareness of threatened species. 

"The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it. We all have the power to do something and we believe by working together and raising awareness, we can make a difference."

WCIN has also established a hotline to report any wildlife crimes. Rossouw urged people to report wildlife crimes via WhatsApp, phone 079 643 9556 or email report@wcin.org.za. Information provided will be treated as confidential.

After the workshop, attendees performed a joint operation in the CBD where the focus was on the illegal trade in fauna and flora.

Examples of illegal items that were used during the workshop. ‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’