According to the World Heath Organisation (WHO), the World Conservation Union (IUCN) & the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) (1986), many medicinal plants face extinction or severe genetic loss, but detailed information is lacking. For most of the endangered medicinal plant species no conservation action has been taken. Veld Products Research and Development (VPR&D) is i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e ! S u s t a i n a b l e herbal/medicinal indigenous plants utilisation community project" that aims to promote the sustainable utilisation and conservation of medicinal Indigenous plants. The project activities include development of an inventory

of the most utilized herbal and medicinal ind ige no u s p la nt species in 3 villages, Gabane, Kumakwane and Menyana in Botswana; raising a w a r e n e s s o n c o n s e r v a t io n o f indigenous medicinal plants and building capacity of local communities in seed collect ion, nursery ma na g e me n t a nd p r o p a g a t i o n o f indigenous medicinal

plants. The Project is be ing f ina nc ia l l y supported by Forest Conservation Botswana (FCB) grant amounting to BWP 442,210.00 (US $63,172) since May 2012. The project will raise 15,000 seedlings of d i f f e r e n t H e r b a l / m e d i c i n a l Indigenous Plants at V P R & D # s demonstration nursery site in Gabane and Menyana villages. The seedlings will later be planted in the wild, and fields for conservation purposes. Further, the 15 year old nursery facilities, the tunnel & nursery shade will be renovated.

Conservation of Indigenous Medicinal Trees

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Profile of Senna italica (sepete) a medicinal plant species

VELD PRODUCTS

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Indigenous fruit trees and non-timber forest products. Management of natural resources P. O. B O X 2 0 2 0 G A B O R O N E B O T S W A N A Tel: +267 3947353/377 Fax: +267 3947363 Email: veldprod@info.bw

Dibapalwa Nageng

Hoodia plants at VPR&D

Local name - Sepete

Scientific name - Senna italica

Family - Fabaceae family

Subfamily - Caesalpinaceae

Special characteristics - It has some antibacterial activities; Medicinal use - It is used a stimulant laxative for the treatment of constipation and for bowel evacuation (Franz, 1993); and widely used traditionally to treat a number of diseases such as sexually transmitted diseases, Gonnorrhaea (Tshikalange et al., 2005).

VPR&D s Board Mr. Percy Maribe (Chairman), Mrs. Daphney Keboneilwe, Mr. Mogapi Madisa, VPR&D s Board members Mr. Percy Maribe (Chairman), Mrs. Daphney Keboneilwe, Mr. Mogapi Madisa, Mr. Raymond Kwerepe, Dr. Khola Mogotsi, Mr Frank Taylor.

How you can support VPR&D • Visit the office and the main

nursery facilities in Gabane, 18km west of Gaborone, in Kweneng district.

• Order and buy Plant seedlings from the beautiful nursery.

• Make a financial donation of any amount to VPR&D.

• Volunteer your expertise and promote conservation activities through VPR&D.

Other Projects at Veld products R &D

Commercial nursery for indigenous ornamental trees adapted to drylands; and indigenous fruit

Veld Products Research & Development s mission "To empower rural communities to manage the sustainable utilisation of natural resources through applied technical and social research and community partnership"

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Specific objectives Management of natural resources; Motivation of rural communities to develop strategies to utilise and manage their resources on a sustainable basis; Marketing and processing of non-timber forests products (veld products).

Current staff members L e r a t o M o o k e t s i (Administration officer), Interns - Bagai Kholwane & Kelotlhoko Sebele (Botswana College of Agriculture Graduates and S t e l l a M z u m a r a (Volunteer Project officer & acting General Manager & two nursery workers.

and a Beekeeping project.

Rob Brown, a private volunteer horticulturalist from USA helping with the nursery

Morojwa fruit tree

Dryland Ornamental plants the Vel

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Renovation of VPR&D s nursery facilities

The Tunnel & Net shade undergoing repairs on FCB project

FCB Officials visit ton Evaluation trip at VPR&D s nursery site

Lerato Mooketsi, Administration officer with BCA intern, Bagai Kholwane BCA Intern - Kelotlhoko Sebele

Board member, Mr. R. Kwerepe with DFRR officials Morojwa indigenous fruit tree seedlings

Text and Layout by Stella Mzumara Project officer & Acting General Manager (Volunteer) June 2012