Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)
If extractive, for the target species, is this use
Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of
Only parts or products of the organism (e.g., feathers, leaves, branches, eggs, nuts)
Details of parts/products taken
The main product is the yellow aloin-rich bitter juice (commonly known as sap) from the leaves; this is used to make Aloe bitters, widely considered to have laxative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, antimicrobial and anti-cancer properties. Other products include increasingly popular cosmetic products made of gel extracted from the white inner flesh of the leaf, which is rich in minerals, vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, enzymes and lipids.
Local people (e.g., individuals, communities, co-operatives)
International private sector
Is the use part of a strategy to generate conservation incentives, to finance conservation, or to improve tolerance/stewardship?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting the conservation status of the species? HIDE
Yes – use is improving the status (e.g., population is increasing or stabilising, extraction effort OR catch per unit effort is decreasing or stable)
Is there evidence that the use is affecting natural selection?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting poaching of illegal wildlife trade?
Unknown/not reported
At the country level, South Africa’s Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) carried out a resource assessment on A. ferox in 2014. The assessment indicated that current harvesting levels do not seem to have impacted significantly on the occurrence of Aloe ferox within its predicted range. The species remains common and abundant throughout its very extensive distribution range, and occurs in some places at very high densities.
The DEFF further conducted a non-detriment finding (NDF) in 2018, finding that the harvest and international trade in A. ferox is non-detrimental and poses a low to moderate risk to the population in the wild.
Is there any evidence that this use of the species is having a knock-on effect on the status of non-target species
Unknown/not recorded
Yes, positive (e.g., it increases / retains land area for conservation)
Yes, considered sustainable
Additional Details (if available)
mention of habitat retention benefits due to the harvesting of cape aloe.
Details of assessment carried out
The DEFF further conducted a non-detriment finding (NDF) in 2018, finding that the harvest and international trade in A. ferox is non-detrimental and poses a low to moderate risk to the population in the wild.
Has a valuation of financial flows from this use at the site/national/international level been recorded
Income from tapping is used for basic household needs including school fees and school supplies.
Additionally, trade can contribute to broader livelihood and development outcomes, including building community networks, skills and capacities, and strengthening land tenure, resource access, species management and local enterprise development.
Additionally, trade can contribute to broader livelihood and development outcomes, including building community networks, skills and capacities, and strengthening land tenure, resource access, species management and local enterprise development.
Has any assessment of socio-economic sustainability been recorded
No assessment recorded
Has the use of the species been recorded as resulting in changes to human health in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the species in use been noted as being of particular disease risk to humans?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the use of the species resulted in changes to animal welfare in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Are there particular practices which have increased the risk to human or animal health or welfare in the use of this species?
Unknown/not recorded
Does the use of this species increase susceptibility to pathogen spread?
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Strong community governance/institutions/rights for wildlife management
Absent
Supportive policy and legislative framework
Absent
Adequate capacity to implement and enforce governance arrangements
Present
Good alignment of legal protections with local cultural values and traditional
Absent
Support from NGOs
Absent
Support from Government
Absent
High financial returns from use
Absent
Abundant population of target species
Present
Biological characteristics of target species
Present
Capacity building of community
Present
Establishment and implementation of species and/or area management plan
Absent
Effective private sector approach engagement through certification
Absent
Good benefit-sharing mechanism
Absent
Good Market Strategies
Absent
Other Factors
Trade of wild Aloe ferox provides important livelihood benefits, particularly income and continuation of traditional knowledge and practices, to some of South Africa’s poorest rural people. The livelihood benefits appear to provide incentives for sustainable use and conservation, and the harvest is not currently leading to any significant decline or threatening the species with extinction, although there is some localised depletion requiring strengthened harvest practices.