The scale of an ecological heist
The value of the plants in the 3 July 2025 conviction illustrates the immense value that fuels this illegal trade, which has led to devastating losses. In one bust in February 2023, confiscated plants were estimated to be worth more than R3.5-million.
According to Le Roux’s report for the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, the scale of the plunder is staggering:
An estimated 14,275 plants have been illegally removed between November 2023 and April 2025.
The species, officially described only in 2002 and listed as vulnerable, is being pushed toward extinction by illegal harvesting, which disrupts ecosystems and reduces genetic diversity.
In a targeted survey of the main Clivia mirabilis population in November 2024, about 3,000 plants were recorded. By December 2024, poachers had removed at least 50% of that surveyed population.
But the battle against these poachers is hampered by significant challenges. The case study found that enforcement capacity is stretched thin, with SAPS and conservation authorities lacking the dedicated personnel and resources to monitor the vast, remote and inaccessible terrain where the plants grow.
“The poaching of Clivia mirabilis represents a critical conservation issue that requires coordinated action at local, national and international levels. Sustainable solutions must balance enforcement with education, cultivation and community involvement to ensure the survival of this unique and beautiful species,” said Le Roux.
A new strategy
In response to the crisis, a multi-pronged strategy combining community action and new technology is being deployed.
On 20 January 2025, the Beter Hantam Trust (BHT) deployed a team of six local conservation monitors from Nieuwoudtville to protect the remaining plants.
This initiative led to a “noticeable decline in poaching incidents”. After two incursions in March 2025, the BHT expanded to 24/7 monitoring, which has since seen no further poaching events in the monitored area.
To bolster these efforts, authorities are planning to test the effectiveness of thermal drones in the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve to detect poachers in the rugged terrain.
A funding proposal is also being developed with the assistance of TRAFFIC, an international NGO, to the Table Mountain Fund (TMF) for a proposed project which looks to assess the population status of Clivia mirabilis across the Western and Northern Cape provinces and to evaluate the impacts of trade and other threats on the species’ long-term survival.
Another initiative is that the Clivia Society, in collaboration with the South African National Botanical Biodiversity Institute, is exploring strategies to protect the remaining wild populations and manage confiscated plants, including potentially selling pollen or seeds to enthusiasts to alleviate pressure on wild stocks.
Despite challenges like funding and capacity, national and provincial government agencies, NGOs, landowners and local communities are working collaboratively to protect South Africa’s globally recognised biodiversity.
The survival of Clivia mirabilis now depends on the success of these coordinated efforts to turn the tide against the organised criminal networks stripping the Cape’s unique natural heritage.
