August 02, 2004, 17:30
The cycad species is steadily diminishing in the Limpopo province. This is the result of rife poaching. Earlier today, a Limpopo farmer was arrested for allegedly transporting an endangered cycad plant without the proper permits.
Tourists from as far as North America and Europe come to the Ha-Modjadji area of Limpopo, the Rain Queen's realm, to buy the rare Modjadji Cycad. Phillip Monyepao, the spokesperson for the tourism department, says the prehistoric plants are part of Limpopo's heritage.
Zander de Kock, a cycad collector, agrees with Monyepao. "I'm completely disgusted with the poaching that's going on in our province because we are loosing national heritage from our province. It's a natural resource that's not being used to its full capacity," he said.
The Modjadji reserve encompasses the world's largest cycad concentration. A flourishing black market has seen the fossil plant rapidly decline in numbers. Over the past 10 years, the Inopinus population has diminished by 84%.
Fanie Coetzee, a regulatory enforcement investigator, said offenders could face up to 15 years in jail or a fine of R250 000. "We've put much higher penalties in place because we are serious bout protecting the plants in the veld and we see it as an asset to the province, and not to nature conservation because it is our plants," he said.
Limpopo province has 11 indigenous species of cycads, three are extinct and another four are on the verge of extinction.
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