Over-exploitation of Plant Resources Rampant – Nts'inyi

The Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture, Ms. Lebohang Nts’inyi has decried the rampant over-exploitation of the country's natural resources without regard to their sustainability. The problem has manifested itself more today than it were about two decades ago.

An update of the list of protected species under the Proclamation of Monuments, Relics, Fauna and Flora of 1969 is being done in response to this ever-increasing menace, the Minister told the National Assembly. This reaction to the danger of  over-utilisation is also based on the Red Data List of Southern Africa, 2002 which contains a list of threatened plant species within the sub-region.

Despite being protected by law, large quantities of these endangered plant and animal species are being sold in most urban centers without due regard for their long-term sustainability. On a number of occasions, her Ministry has not been able to respond accordingly because the relevant law, Historical Monuments, Relics, Fauna and Flora of 1967 is antiquated, Ms Nts'inyi said.

"It did not keep pace with the rate at which plant resources are being used. Heaps of medicinal plants being sold in Maseru and other urban centers bears testimony to a failing control system.” she said.

The protected plants include all aloes, with particular reference to the Aloe polyphylla (Kharatsa); all bamboos (Leqala); all protea (Sekila); all wild olive trees (Mohloare); all cussionia (Mots’ets’e); all rhus burchelli (Mokhoamphiri); all celastrus (Sefea-maeba); all leucoxilo (Phuku); all heterorpha (Monkhoane); all grewia (Lesika); all chilianthus (Lelora) and; all gladiolus species as proclaimed in the Monuments, Relics, Fauna and Flora of 1969.

It is a known fact that population growth is always associated with demand for biological resources, and some transformation of the environment cannot be stopped, but Basotho should do their best to minimize the rate at which plants and animals disappear in the natural environment.

Furthermore, Lesotho has ratified a number of international Conventions that compel her to conserve her biological heritage, including the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), 1995 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), 2003, the Minister said.

The former has provision for access to genetic resources (article 15) and benefit sharing, which article is intended to halt the biopiracy that has led to some of Lesotho's plant species being commercially cultivated in other countries without any benefits coming to the country.

The Ministry would do everything in its power to reduce pressure on biological resources by pursuing economically viable options, including establishment of botanical and zoological gardens. In addition it would continue to help traditional healers establish their own botanical gardens for medical plants, Ms. Nts'inyi said. 

06 May 2004