Species Use Database

African aloes
Aloe secundiflora

Used for Medicine and hygiene and Conservation Management in Kenya

A. Species

Scientific name: Aloe secundiflora

Common name(s): African aloes

Global IUCN Red List Threat Status: Least Concern


B. Location of use

Geographic location(s):

  • Kenya

Country/Region:


C. Scale of assessment

Scale of assessment: National Level

Name/Details of location: Kenya


D. Timescale of use

Start Year: 2003

End Year: 2008


E. Information about the use

How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat and Wild species sourced from significantly modified habitat

Type of use: Extractive

Practice of use: Gathering/Cutting/Collecting terrestrial plants and fungi or their products from the wild

Lethal or non-lethal: Non-Lethal

Does this use involve take/extraction of: Only parts or products of the organism

Purpose(s) of end use: Medicine and hygiene and Conservation Management

Motivation of use: Basic subsistence, Income generation from trade (individual/household/community), Largescale commercial exploitation for trade and Population/Area Management

Is this use legal or illegal?: Legal under national law


F. Information about the Users

Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: not recorded


G. Information about the sustainability of use

Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat and Wild species sourced from significantly modified habitat

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: CITES Non detriment findings

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: The Strategy for Conservation and Management of Commercial Aloe Species in Kenya (Lubia et al. 2008) was formulated to guide sustainable utilisation of the resource, with the aim of striking a balance between socio-cultural, economic and ecological needs necessary for sustainable development of the sub-sector. The Strategy provides for sustainable utilization of aloes sourced from both domesticated and wild populations.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: CITES Non detriment findings

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: The Strategy for Conservation and Management of Commercial Aloe Species in Kenya (Lubia et al. 2008) was formulated to guide sustainable utilisation of the resource, with the aim of striking a balance between socio-cultural, economic and ecological needs necessary for sustainable development of the sub-sector. The Strategy provides for sustainable utilization of aloes sourced from both domesticated and wild populations. Intercropping of aloe with other crops/ grazing encouraged.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: CITES Non detriment findings

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Strategy explores ways of promoting sustainable utilisation by proposing incentives for salvaging aloes in cases of land use change; promotes aloe cultivation as a competitive land use option and encourages multiple use of land that combines intercropping of aloes with conventional crops as well as grazing.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: not recorded


Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species

For efficient implementation of the Kenya Strategy for conservation and management of commercial aloes as a management plan and make it as adaptive as possible, it will be crucial to obtain baseline information that will enable future monitoring of the impact of off-take on natural populations. It is recommended that: • Detailed studies are carried out on the five species to establish pertinent information as relates to spatial and genetic structure and dynamics of populations. Data accruing from such studies will enhance objectivity in application of the IUCN Checklist for NDF on these species. • In addition, it will be crucial to develop efficient identification and authentication tools for the various commercial species and their products for surveillance at the ports of exit from the country.


Record source

Information about the record source: formal_data_stats

Date of publication/issue/production: 2008-01-01T00:00:00+0000

Source Reference(s):

NDF WORKSHOP CASE STUDIES, WG 3 – Succulents and Cycads, CASE STUDY 1: Wabuele & Kyalo (2008): SUSTAINABLE USE OF EAST AFRICAN ALOES: THE CASE OF
COMMERCIAL ALOES IN KENYA

Date of record entry: 2023-10-04