Threatened Plants Programmes: Mozambique
Cycads, palms, and medicinal trees

The Threatened Plants Programme (TPP) in Mozambique aims to protect Raphia australis, Encephalartos ferox, Encephalartos lebomboensis, and Warburgia salutaris, which are popular amongst collectors.

Implementing the TPP in Mozambique started in earnest in July 2002. The first step was to determine what each participating garden—INIA Botanic Garden, the University Botanic Garden, and Tundura Garden—needed to accommodate the species that had been selected for the Programme. During the needs assessment, the material needed for each garden was listed. It was also recognised that an exchange of expertise, regarding methods of plant propagation and pest control would also be needed. Consequently, an internship at the Durban Botanical Garden was arranged.

DBG shares expertise
The Durban Botanical Garden hosted three staff members from each Garden participating in the TPP for an internship from 22–29 September 2002. The objectives of the internship were for the Mozambican team to gain experience in propagation techniques, soil preparation, and pest control in respect to some threatened plant species. The participants learned how to propagate, prepare the soil, and control the pests of Encephalartos species. They also learned how to propagate Warburgia salutaris and other medicinal plants.

The Programme purchased the materials needed for the propagation and fertilisation of the selected threatened plants at Strangeways Nursery Equipment Distributors in Durban and had it delivered to Maputo in March 2003. The time it took for customs to clear the material, resulted in the Gardens receiving it only in May 2003.

In pursuit of plants
In December 2003, INIA Botanic Garden, the University Botanic Garden, and Tundura Garden held a joint field collection trip with the purpose of procuring plant material for propagation purposes. Marta Manjate, Filomena Barbosa and Hilário Machava (programme co-ordinators in INIA Botanic Garden, the University Botanic Garden, and Tundura Garden respectively) arranged and co-ordinated this trip. Marta Manjate, Sofrimento Matsimbe, Iva Carla Vaz, and Laurinda Nhamurave from INIA Botanic Garden; Filomena Barbosa, Annae Senkoro, Domingos Salomão, and Luis Mateulane from the University Botanic Garden; and Hilário Machava and Abel Tivane from Tunduru Garden were involved in the trip.

The participants visited the Macaneta, Bobole and Chificundzi localities in the Marracuene district; the Changalane and Goba localities in the Goba district; and the Licuáti forest in the Namaacha and Matutuine districts. They travelled ±1,200 km, and collected material of Raphia australis, Encephalartos ferox, Encephalartos lebomboensis, and Warburgia salutaris.

Number of species collected
Species	Total in gardens	Total in nurseries
Encephalartos ferox	31	212
Encephalartos lebomboensis	48	28
Raphia australis	2	56
Warburgia salutaris	1	896 cuttings

These species were selected for the TPP as they are all threatened by over-collection. As Encephalartos ferox is especially popular with tourists, locals in the Macaneta area collect it extensively to sell to them. Raphia australis and Warburgia salutaris are both also under threat from habitat loss due to expanding agricultural activities.

Currently, the collected plant materials are under care for propagation. Those involved with the TPP are also gathering information on such things as the requirements and ecology of the selected species for publication in information brochures.

Moving forward
Plans for the Threatened Plants Programme in Mozambique include:

Brochures and leaflets.

Participation in important events relating to environment for the dissemination and marketing of the programme and the species involved.

Design of new projects for raising funds to ensure the continuity of the TPP in Mozambique.

Presentations and discussions of the results to relevant institutions in June 2004.

—Mario Calane da Silva

SABONET News 9.1: 42