Recognising the value of wild species will both support rural livelihoods and provide important incentives for their sustainable use.
What we know
Over 6% of rural households in South Africa (equating to approximately 320,000 households) trade in at least one wild resource, spanning fuelwood, medicinal plants, weaving fibres, wild foods (insects, fruits, indigenous vegetables, honey, bushmeat), grass and twig brushes, and crafts.
Rather than curbing the use and trade of wild species through informal and wet markets, governments could recognise trade based on sustainable use through necessary support measures.
Wild species use can help perpetuate the knowledge and values of biodiversity conservation and species propagation, as well as foster long-term relationships between people and their environment.
Sustainable use of wild species from forests and on farms may reduce people's dependence on food and material from other regions where they are mass-produced, often at a high environmental and social cost.
