NWFP Report 2012
Lesotho
1
http://www.fao.org/forestry/nwfp/78836/en/ Food and Agriculture Organization, FOPP
Hugo Lehoux & Anis Chakib
1
This document is still under construction, please don’t consider it as an official FAO publication
CONTENTS
1
Contents 1 Plants and plant products 1.1 Food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 Fodder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4 Colorants and dyes . . . . . . . . . . 1.5 Utensils, handicraft and construction 1.6 Ornamental plants . . . . . . . . . . 1.7 Exudates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3
2 Animals and animal products 2.1 Living animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 Honey and bee-wax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 Bush meat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 4 4 4
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . material . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
1
PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS
2
Context The population of Lesotho is estimated around 2.084 million people in 2010 [FAOSTAT]. The total area of the country is 30,350 km2 with around 44,000 hectares of forests and 97,000 hectares of other wooded lands in 2010 [FAO, 2010].
Introduction Main Non-Wood Forest Products Fodder plants, fruits and medicinal plants are the most important non-wood forest products (NWFP) in Lesotho. Other NWFP are ornamentals, tannins, bushmeat, honey and beeswax.
General information NWFP play a crucial role for the rural communities. But since fuelwood is regarded as the most important forest product for the people in Lesotho, NWFP are little appreciated at the national level. The only recognition given to NWFP at the national level refers to imports from South Africa [Anonymous, 1993]. There is also an interest in ornamental species, particularly in the urban and peri-urban areas.
1 1.1
Plants and plant products Food
The sweet briar (Rosa rubiginosa) is an important traditional food in Lesotho. It produces rosehips which are very rich in vitamin C. Bramble, of which there are two species in Lesotho (Rubus rigidus and R. ludwigii), is also important for the berries it produces. Various types of wild spinaches like Amaranthus spp. are also used as food in many parts of Lesotho [CSC and FAO, 1993].
1.2
Fodder
Overstocking in Lesotho is recorded to reach 300 percent. Trees are an important source of fodder, especially during the dry season. Harvesting of forage consists mainly in the removal of leaves, pods and small branches or twigs. In most cases, the tree forage is cut using pruning shears and fed to the animals. In some cases cattle and goats are allowed direct access to the trees to browse freely. Probably the commonest fodder tree is the mountain cabbage tree (Cussonia paniculata). Others species used as fodder are: Agave Americana, Gleditsia triacanthos, Robinia pseudo-acacia, salix babylonica. Recent introduced fodder trees in Lesotho include tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis),
1
PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS
3
tree lupin (Lupinus arborea) and salt bush (Atriplex spp.) [CSC and FAO, 1993].
1.3
Medicine
Medicinal plants used in Lesotho include: • Dianthus bascius - used by traditional healers. The plant, which promotes cleansing of the blood stream, is sold on the local markets at high price. • Eucomis autumnalis - an important source of income. An infusion made from this herb is used for curing sexually transmitted diseases. • Berkheya setifera - another important medicinal plant in the country. And also: the wild wormwood (Artemisia afra), the bitter aloe (Aloe ferox), the wild sugar bush (Pollichia campestris), the bush guarri (Euclea crispa var. crispa) and the parsnip tree (Heteromorpha arborescens) [CSC and FAO, 1993]. The main commercial activities in NWFP in the country are based on traditional medicines (e.g. Dianthus bascius, Eucomis autumnalis, Berkheya setifera). Many medicinal plants can be considered endangered species due to over-exploitation.
1.4
Colorants and dyes
No data available.
1.5
Utensils, handicraft and construction material
Merxmuellera macowanii (Moseha) is used as material to make brooms, mats, house roofing and huts. Products made of this grass are a source of income to the people since they are exported.
1.6
Ornamental plants
No data available.
1.7
Exudates
No data available.
2
ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS
2 2.1
4
Animals and animal products Living animals
No data available.
2.2
Honey and bee-wax
Honey has always been of great importance to Lesotho. It is used as medicine to cure colds and is also believed to exorcize evil spirits. In 1996, 343.2 kg of honey were produced in Lesotho and in 1997/98 the yield increased to 448.4 kg/a. The honey produced in Lesotho is sold on the local markets and in the pharmacies [FAO and Sekaleli, 1998].
2.3
Bush meat
Bushmeat plays a crucial role for the rural people. Due to the disappearance of animals’ natural habitats, the number of animal populations has drastically decreased [Anonymous, 1993]. Hunted species include hares (Lepus spp. and Pedetes spp.), rabbits, rock-rabbits, porcupines (Hystrix africaeaustralis) and a few buck (Oreotragus oreotragus, Raphicerus campestris and Sylvicarpa grimmia) [CSC and FAO, 1993]. According to FAOSTAT database [FAOSTAT], game meat production in Lesotho slightly increased (50 to 100 tons per annum) from 3 900 tons in 2000 to around 4 500 tons in 2008.
REFERENCES
5
References Anonymous. Pilote country study lesotho. In Non-wood forest products: A regional expert consultation for English-speaking African countries. Commonwealth Science Council and FAO, 1993. CSC and FAO. Non-Wood Forest Products - A Regional Expert Consultation for English-Speaking African Countries. CSC and FAO, 1993. FAO. Forest Ressources Assessment. FAO, 2005. FAO. Forest Ressources Assessment. FAO, 2010. URL http://www.fao. org/forestry/fra/fra2010/en/. FAO and E.S. Sekaleli. Non-wood forest products of Lesotho. FAO, 1998. FAOSTAT. URL http://faostat3.fao.org/home/.
Global Report on Non Wood Forest Products COUNTRY
CLASS SPECIES
YEAR
PRODUCTION unit
VALUE unit
EXPORT uni t
VALUE unit
IMPORT unit
VALUE uni DETAIL t
COMMENT
Lesotho 12
13
Honey
Bush meat
1996
343 kg
-
1997
448 kg
-
2000
3 900 t
-
2008
4 500 t
-
NWFP Classes : 1 Food 2 Fodder 3 Raw material for medicine and aromatic products 4 Colorants and dyes 5 Raw material for utensils, handicrafts and construction 6 Ornamental plants 7 Exudates 8 Other plant products 10 Living animals 11 Hides, skins and trophies 12 Wild honey and bee-wax 13 Bush meat 14 Raw material for medicine 15 Raw material for colorants 16 Other edible animal products 17 Other non-edible animal products 20 Mushrooms
vendredi 22 juin 2012 Page 1 sur 1
