The Trade in Native Medicinal Herbs, According to President Cyril Ramaphosa, is a Multimillion-Rand Sector that Sustains Livelihoods

The trade in native medicinal plants, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, is a multimillion-rand sector that sustains livelihoods along the entire value chain. He further claims that the sustainable use of biodiversity is a cornerstone of rural economies nationwide, sustaining thousands of houses.

On Tuesday, Ramaphosa spoke at the Biodiversity Investment Indaba conference.

According to him, the sustainable use of biodiversity boosts urban economies, as traditional medicine markets can be found in almost all of South Africa’s main cities.

“Rooibos, a product that is well-known not only in South Africa but also internationally, is a fantastic illustration of this strategy.

“The South African Rooibos industry, along with the Khoi and San councils, launched the first industry-wide benefits sharing agreement four years ago. As a result of this arrangement, two councils have received a total of 28 million dollars in appreciation of the indigenous knowledge of the rooibos species inside the communities.

Ramaphosa mentioned in his speech that compensation for indigenous people was necessary.

According to him, the establishment of industries, factories, and value chains must be facilitated by the sustainable mass cultivation of native plant species.

“Land rehabilitation and restoration can also benefit from this vast farming. We are creating nurseries for the cultivation of indigenous species in order to provide a more comprehensive approach to access and benefit sharing,” he explains. These species are suitable for cultivation for both medical and cosmetic uses.

“When it comes to animal species beneficiation must result in the establishment of community run businesses, like lodges, meat butcheries and production facilities” .

Ramaphosa has advocated for the involvement of traditional leaders, underprivileged people, and rural communities in the development of innovative strategies for financing community-owned land for businesses centered around biodiversity.

This is the goal and issue that a revamped biodiversity economic strategy seeks to resolve. It emphasizes that a sustainable biodiversity economy must be linked to the restoration of ecosystems, aiming to harmonize our economic and conservation goals.

He claims that as the globe deals with the increasingly dire consequences of climate change, efforts are being made to conserve and restore biodiversity.