Devil’s Claw (harpagophytum sp) is a protected plant in Namibia and permits are required to harvest and sell it. Extracts from the roots of the plant act as an anti-inflammatory and are widely used in Europe and elsewhere in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis. Namibia is the largest supplier of devil’s claw in the world. In both the Nyae Nyae & N≠a Jaqna conservancies the sustainable harvesting and sale of Devil’s Claw makes a vital contribution to income generation for their members and conservancy management.
A large portion of income for both conservancies is derived from wildlife and tourist related activities. However, due to the Covid 19 pandemic income from these sources has been significantly reduced making income from other sources increasingly important. Cash income from devil’s claw is essential for the conservancy members to pay for basic needs, which includes food, transport, clothes, healthcare, and schooling.
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