In a remote part of South Africa, a biodiversity hotspot has become the epicentre of illegal trade in protected plant species. Organised crime syndicates exploit the demand for rare succulents in overseas markets, causing a growing social and ecological crisis. These plants, prized for their beauty and ability to survive in arid conditions, are being ripped from their natural habitats, devastating local communities and the environment.
“They’ve not just stolen our land or our plants; they’ve stolen our heritage as well,” a local livestock farmer said, visibly upset about the growing poaching problem in her area. The poaching has deeply affected the social fabric, with crime syndicates exacerbating tensions within tight-knit rural communities.
What Makes the Succulents of the Succulent Karoo So Unique?
The plants in question are succulents, a species known for their ability to store water and thrive in dry environments. Most of the world’s succulent species are found only in the Succulent Karoo desert, which stretches across South Africa and Namibia. These plants vary widely in appearance—some look like small multi-coloured buttons, while others resemble cacti, flowering in vibrant hues at different times of the year.
Though some varieties can be cultivated in nurseries, demand from collectors worldwide drives poachers to plunder these plants from the wild. The succulents are then smuggled out of the country and sold online, with buyers from the United States, Europe, and East Asia willing to pay top dollar for these rare species.
Why Has Kamieskroon Become a Hotbed for Poachers?
In Kamieskroon, a small town in the heart of South Africa’s Namaqualand region, the problem has reached critical levels. The rolling hills, once a sanctuary for these endangered species, have become a haven for poachers. The region’s unique plant species are highly localised, making them vulnerable to extinction from just a tiny amount of poaching.
“In South Africa, we know already of seven species that have been wiped out completely, and there are certainly more species that will go extinct very soon,” said a nursery curator at the /Ai /Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.
Obtaining accurate figures on how many plants are being poached is difficult. Still, the non-governmental organisation Traffic reported that South Africa’s law enforcement agencies seized over 1.6 million illegally harvested succulents between 2019 and 2024. This figure only accounts for the contraband that was intercepted, so the accurate scale of the poaching is likely much higher.
How Did Poaching Surge After COVID-19?
The South African government is well aware of the problem and unveiled a strategy in 2022 to combat plant poaching. The plan includes community programmes to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment. However, conservationists argue that the situation has worsened since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As international traders could not travel to South Africa during the lockdowns, they turned to local people to collect succulents and ship them out of the country. This coincided with a global surge in demand for plants.
“People had more time to try to find something to keep busy with, and plants were one of the only things that, in your house, could connect you to the outside world,” said a local conservationist. The pandemic and increased interest in plants provided an opening for organised crime syndicates to exploit.
How Are Organised Crime Syndicates Exploiting the Demand?
Organised crime syndicates quickly recognised the opportunity presented by the growing demand for succulents. They began hiring local poachers and marketing the rare plants on social media and e-commerce platforms. “The syndicates saw this as an opportunity to make something viral… telling as wide as possible public: ‘We have this super-strange looking thing that comes from the African continent,'” said a local conservationist.
“The public just loses their heads, and they say, ‘I want to buy one,’ and [the syndicates] arrange for the species to be poached,” he explained. This type of illicit trade, combined with the viral marketing of these plants, has led to a sharp increase in poaching activities in the region.
What Impact Does Poaching Have on Local Communities?
The rise in poaching is having serious consequences for local communities, many of whom live in poverty. As poaching becomes more profitable, tensions are growing, and crime is on the rise. Local people, desperate for income, are often lured into illegal activities.
“This is a low-income area; people are not rich here, and people will exploit income opportunities,” explained a representative from Conservation South Africa.
A local livestock farmer, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals, spoke about the influx of money into the community during periods of poaching. “When we see young men going up in the mountain areas, we know they’re poachers,” she said. “They use screwdrivers to uproot the succulents and carry backpacks and sacks to keep the stolen plants.”
Unfortunately, the money from poaching often leads to adverse social outcomes. “A few days after that, there is an outbreak of binge drinking and illegal activity. When they get the money, there are more drugs, more alcohol, children are neglected because mummy is drunk, daddy is drunk, there’s no food,” said the farmer, reflecting on the damage the trade is causing.
Ms Gardiner worries that the ongoing tension will have long-term effects on the tight-knit communities in the region. “Small communities here really need each other… but this brings distrust. It brings a split in the communities as well,” she said.
How Can Awareness and Sustainable Cultivation Help Combat Poaching?
Conservationists are calling for greater awareness about the illegal trade and urging buyers to take responsibility for where their plants come from. “People are being abused and enslaved by syndicates and buyers,” said a local conservationist.
To combat the issue, several initiatives have been launched. One such effort is the Clean Internet for Conophytum campaign, initiated by the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation in 2023. The campaign has raised awareness, resulting in an 80% reduction in online adverts for conophytum succulents with an unknown source. According to the foundation’s deputy secretary-general Linda Wong, buyers are now more cautious and are starting to ask questions about the origin of the plants they purchase.
“The key is awareness,” Wong said. “Once people know, they want to take action. They want to take responsibility for consuming those plants and enjoying their beauty responsibly.”
What Does the Future Hold for Succulent Conservation?
Despite these efforts, many conservationists believe more must be done to curb poaching in South Africa. Advocates for succulent conservation are pushing for the promotion of legal cultivation of succulents, which could reduce the demand for plants harvested from the wild. “We as a country need to say that: ‘We have this resource, and there are other countries that are majorly benefiting from this, why aren’t we?'” said one conservationist.
As part of this effort, a nursery at the /Ai /Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park cares for plants confiscated by law enforcement. Since its inception, the nursery has received over 200,000 plants.
“It’s stressful seeing things disappearing,” said the nursery curator. “But studying these plants brings so much joy and pleasure, and you just forget about all the nonsense happening in the world.”
Despite the bleak reality of the poaching crisis, there remains hope that greater awareness and sustainable practices will help protect South Africa’s rare and beautiful succulents for future generations.
