Conservation and commercialisation: A cross-sectional ecological study of medicinal plant use in KwaZulu-Natal.

Sibonelo Thanda Mbanjwa

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i3.2211

Authors

Sibonelo Thanda Mbanjwa Mangosuthu University of Technology P.O. Box 12363 Jacobs 4026 Durban, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i3.2211

Keywords:

Medicinal plants, Indigenous knowledge, Sustainability assessment, Conservation, Commercialization, KwaZulu-Natal, Hypoxis hemerocallidea, Warburgia salutaris, Habitat loss, Ecological risk, Non-destructive survey, Traditional medicine trade

Abstract

Background
Medicinal plants play a vital role in healthcare, livelihoods, and cultural identity in KwaZulu-Natal. However, increasing commercialization and unsustainable harvesting threaten their long-term availability. Over-exploitation, habitat loss, and unregulated trade have placed several high-value species at ecological risk. This study assessed the sustainability of medicinal plant use in KwaZulu-Natal by examining conservation status, harvesting pressure, habitat change, and commercialization trends without involving human subjects.

Methods
A desk-based research design was implemented using published scientific literature, herbarium records, Red List assessments, and government or NGO reports. In addition, a non-destructive ecological survey was conducted through rapid vegetation assessments and species presence mapping in accessible habitats. Sustainability indicators included conservation status, plant parts harvested, regeneration potential, habitat transformation, market demand, and legal protection. Each species was classified using a Sustainability Index (0–100) to determine ecological risk levels.

Results
The analysis identified multiple widely used medicinal plants, including Hypoxis hemerocallidea, Warburgia salutaris, and Siphonochilus aethiopicus. Species with high commercial demand and destructive harvesting of bulbs, roots, or bark showed limited natural regeneration and were mostly located in areas of pronounced land-cover change. Plants occurring inside protected areas generally received higher sustainability scores compared to those on communal land. Overall, most high-value species fell within the moderate-to-high ecological risk category, suggesting declining wild populations and increased harvesting pressure.

Conclusion
Medicinal plant use in KwaZulu-Natal remains culturally and economically significant, yet current harvesting practices and habitat degradation are ecologically unsustainable. Slow-growing species and those subject to destructive harvesting are particularly vulnerable.

Recommendations
Sustainability can be improved through cultivation programmes, community-based harvesting guidelines, and stronger conservation policies. Expanded monitoring, propagation research, and nursery-scale commercialization may reduce pressure on wild populations while maintaining traditional and economic benefits.

Author Biography

Sibonelo Thanda Mbanjwa, Mangosuthu University of Technology P.O. Box 12363 Jacobs 4026 Durban, South Africa

is a dedicated lecturer in the Department of Nature Conservation at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), South Africa. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and specializes in biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and environmental education. Dr. Mbanjwa is deeply committed to community engagement, student mentorship, and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems into conservation practices. His work bridges academia and practical application, empowering students and communities through innovative teaching, research, and outreach initiatives.

References

Botha J, Witkowski E & Shackleton C. (2004). Market profiles and trade in medicinal plants in the Lowveld, South Africa. Environmental Conservation, 31(1), 38–46. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892904001067

Cunningham, A.B. (1988). An investigation of the herbal medicine trade in KwaZulu-Natal. Institute of Natural Resources, Pietermaritzburg.

Dharani, N., Yenesew, A., Aynekulu, E. & Kinyamario, J. (2010). Medicinal Plants of East Africa: A Guide to Traditional Medicinal Plants in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Nairobi: Struik Nature.

Maroyi, A. (2013). Trade and sustainable use of traditional medicinal plants in Zimbabwe. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 9(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-31

Mander, M. (1998). The Marketing of Indigenous Medicinal Plants in South Africa: A Case Study in KwaZulu-Natal. FAO, Rome.

Mokganya, M.G. & Tshisikhawe, M.P. (2019). The trade of medicinal plants by muthi shops and street vendors in Thohoyandou, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany, 122, 44–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2018.09.029

Nichols, E. (2005). The ecological impact of harvesting non-timber forest products. Biodiversity and Conservation, 14(5), 1321–1340.

SANBI. (2023). Red List of South African Plants. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Available at: www.redlist.sanbi.org