Page 48 - State of Biodiversity Report 2022/2023

Silverglen Muthi Plant Nursery
Article by: Brian Abrahams
Email: Brian.Abrahams@durban.gov.za
The growing demand of African traditional healing in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province has seen a greater demand for ‘medicinal’/ muthi plants. This has led to over-harvesting of muthi plants in the wild and the establishment of Silverglen Muthi Plant Nursery which is based inside Silverglen Nature Reserve in Chatsworth, KZN. The aim of the nursery was
to protect the indigenous plants that are suspected to be harvested for medicinal use through propagation. Propagated plants are sold to the public at a low cost, donated to schools or planted by eThekwini Municipality staff.
In the past, the nursery has focused on producing the endangered and other species of demand
such as Ocotea bullata (Black Stinkwood, uNukani), Prunus africana (Red Stinkwood, iNyazangoma-
elimnyama) and Artemisia afra (African Wormwood, uMhlonyane). However, it is suspected that there are other plants that the nursery might not know of and that could be locally extinct. For those reasons the nursery has taken an initiative to engage with traditional healers, public and muthi collectors in the effort to try and get direct information on the plants that are mostly used or in demand in the market. The efforts are to also encourage local residents into indigenous plant propagation and gardening. Siphonochilus aethiopicus (Wild Ginger, iNdungula/isiPhephetho) and Warburgia salutaris (Pepper-bark Tree, isiBaha) are examples of endengered plants always propagated at Silverglen Muthi Plant Nursery since the establishment. Siphonochilus aethiopicus is known to be extinct over most of its former range and is now considered among traders as the most scarce of all traded plants in South Africa, while Warburgia salutaris is known to be found only in protected areas in KZN.
To date more than 400 species of indigenous plants were produced through the propagation programme. On average, the nursery produces 70 000 to 80 000 plants per annum. However, this financial year close to 58 669 plants were produced by potting. The Nursery has been able to donate 4 247 indigenous plants which were planted at various organizations, schools, during clean up campaigns and environmental events, which is an increase from last year’s donation. However, the survival of those planted plants is not known. Hence the need to conduct surveys on endangered species within the eThekwini Municipality to determine the impact the nursery is having on the environment, in particular on endangered medicinal plants.
The nursery offers plant propagation training to the public e.g. traditional healers, schools, general public and staff of the eThekwini Municipality at no cost. The plant propagation training is headed by Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Educations Officers where different groups are trained on how to grow plants from either seeds or different parts of the plants. The aim behind the training is to transfer and broaden the knowledge of the various groups on how they can gain independence in the muthi plant business sector by starting their own nurseries, in that way putting less pressure and threat on indigenous plant harvesting. The start of this initiative has also developed a good relationship between the Environmental Educational Officers and two schools for children with disabilities where knowledge on propagation is transferred and trees are planted as part of environmental programs. This year, about seven groups were invited to attend the plant propagation training whereby 107 participants were present.
The nursery is open to the public Monday to Friday from 07h30 and 15h30. Closed on weekends and Public Holidays. For further information please contact 031 404 5628.
46 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY REPORT 2022/2023