A REVIEW: FARMER’S PERCEPTIONS ON ENDANGERED PROTEACEAE SPECIES OF THE AGULHAS PLAIN, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE POTENTIAL FOR THEIR PROPAGATION

The Agulhas Plain contributes largely to the commercial Protea cut flower industry in South Africa.
The illegal field harvesting of Red Data species such as Leucadendron elimense subsp. elimense, L. laxum, L. platyspermum and L. stelligerum (Protaceae) has drastically reduced their population numbers.
Agricultural practices and a lack of conservation efforts continue to threaten the potential of future ecotourism development of the area.
Conservation, ecotourism and agriculture could work together to maintain a balance of protection, enjoyment and commercial gain of the habitat and support employment opportunities for local communities.
The aim of this review was to collect data on current cut flower harvesting practices in the Agulhas Plain and to gather information relating to the development of new propagation techniques of Red Data species to help farmers and growers in the propagation and conservation of these species.
This review identified a lack of training and a need to investigate the most successful propagation techniques for the threatened plant species of the Agulhas Plain.

XXVIII International Horticultural Congress on Science and Horticulture for People (IHC2010): International Symposium on Advances in Ornamentals, Landscape and Urban Horticulture

C.P. Laubscher, R.R. Koehorst, P.A. Ndakidemi

auxin, bark, flower industry, peat moss, polystyrene, river sand, threatened species

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.937.96