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Network News Network News Botswana: Rare decorating plant faces extinction
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Botswana: Rare decorating plant faces extinction |
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KASANE - Transvaal red balloon, a rare plant found only at a certain hill in Shoshong, is in danger of extinction due to commercialisation, according to Botswana Botanical Garden Principal Curator, Mr Nonofo Mosesane. The Transvaal red balloon is used for decorations, he said in an interview. Mr Mosesane said other local rare plant species that have declined in numbers are sengaparile, hoodia and palamela found in Pandamatenga, which are commonly used for healing purposes. Timber trees found in the North East District are also disappearing. Sengaparile market is high in neighbouring countries while Hoodia is widely used by local pharmacies for healing purposes. Some of these plants are used by traditional doctors, while some have been destroyed to pave way for developments while some cannot stand the ever changing climatic conditions, he said. He said the timber trees are used for sculpting and that their population has declined although the plants cannot be planted anywhere else. Mr Mosesane said the major threat is commercialization of plant materials. Research has shown that 80 per cent of Southern African countries depend on traditional medicine and this is another contributing factor to scarcity and extinction of plants, he added. He said the Botanical Garden has collected 144 species of plants for conservation and has started public education on plant conservation. The Deputy Director of Forestry, Mr Moemedi Kwerepe, has confirmed that some plant populations have declined. The hoodia is found in Southern Kgalagadi next to Bokspits and we have the Gordnii species which is declining, he said, However, he said they are trying to propagate the hoodia plants, noting that This plant is good in suppressing hunger and is well sought after as it used for slimming, he said. He said he regretted that the plant was being smuggled outside the country. Mr Kwerepe cautioned that: It will not be correct to say that the plants are threatened by extinction as you need scientific prove to come to that conclusion. The population of the plants is just declining. He said his department has since placed 13 plant species under protection because of their decline in population. BOPA http://www.gov.bw/cgi-bin/news.cgi?d=20080131&i=Rare_decorating_plant_faces_extinction |
