The significance of georeferencing

medicinal plant records

Ya’qub Ebrahim South African National Biodiversity Institute

(Encephalartos caffer (http://pza.sanbi.org/encephalartos-caffer)

Background

• Traditional medicine plays a huge role in SA and about 2000

recorded plant species are used for medicinal purposes

• Approximately a third used in local muthi markets

• 20% unsustainably sourced

• 42% listed as threatened with extinction

• Southern Africa’s medicinal plant species are ever decreasing due

to over exploitation

• With the current rate of harvesting – plant supplies will decline

and many species will become extinct

• The need for conservation

Background Background

Rapanea melanophloeos(http://pza.sanbi.org/rapanea-melanophloeos)

Begonia dregei Otto & A.Dietr. (http://pza.sanbi.org/begonia-dregei)

Ansellia Africana (http://pza.sanbi.org/ansellia-africana)

Approach

3 steps:

1. Manage species datasets and create database

2. Georeference species localities

3. Produce species distribution maps using ArcGIS

Raw data and sorting

Extracting unique values

Database

Geolocate

Google Earth Pro

Cassipourea malosana (Baker) Alston (Pillarwood, common onionwood)(35000m difference).

Georeferencing calculator

Species distribution

South Africa

Threatened and over-harvested

Thank You!