Species Use Database

Species Use Database

Ghaap, Bitter ghaap, Xhoba, Hoodia
Hoodia gordonii

Used for Food and feed and Medicine and hygiene in South Africa

A. Species

Scientific name: Hoodia gordonii

Common name(s): Ghaap, Bitter ghaap, Xhoba, Hoodia

Global IUCN Red List Threat Status:

B. Location of use

Geographic location(s):

  • South Africa

Country/Region:

C. Scale of assessment

Scale of assessment: Sub-national / Sub-region / Sub-State

Name/Details of location: Northern Cape Province

D. Timescale of use

Start Year: 2008

End Year: 2008

E. Information about the use

How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from its natural 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: Lethal and Non-Lethal

Does this use involve take/extraction of: The whole entire organism and Only parts or products of the organism

Purpose(s) of end use: Food and feed and Medicine and hygiene

Motivation of use: Income generation from trade (individual/household/community), Largescale commercial exploitation for trade and Traditional/Cultural/Spiritual

Is this use legal or illegal?: Some use is legal and some is illegal

F. Information about the Users

Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: Local people, National / local government, National / local private sector and International private sector

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

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

Details of assessment carried out: CITES Non detrimental findings

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

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

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

The authors recommend that the same rules and methods should be implemented across provinces. There is currently a lack of cooperation between provinces which prevents proper management and monitoring of harvesting and permits.

Record source

Information about the record source: grey_lit

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

Source Reference(s):

Swart, E., 2008. Hoodia gordonii in Southern Africa. NDF Workshop Case Studies, WG 3 – Succulents and Cycads, Case Study 6, Mexico. Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation, Northern Cape Province, South Africa.

Date of record entry: 2025-04-11