The Utilization and Conservation of Indigenous Wild Plant Resources in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

The knowledge pertaining to uses of indigenous wild plants and their conservation methods by the rural communities of the Limpopo Province (South Africa) is not fully reconnoitered. The available data highlighting these aspects are scattered in general ethnobotanical literatures. The current study therefore sought to collate, analyze, and describe such information. Search engines and local libraries were used to document information. A total of 50 useful wild plant species belonging to 32 botanical families, mainly the Fabaceae (28%, n = 9) and Cucurbitaceae (13%, n = 4), were harvested by rural communities inhabiting the Limpopo Province. These species were mainly exploited wholly for medicinal (62%, n = 31) and food (20%, n = 10) purposes. Leaves, bark, fruits, and roots, respectively, were the most commonly used plant parts. Overall, the traditional conservation approaches employed by the indigenous people to ensure continual supply of these organs for different livelihoods encompass traditional beliefs and taboos, sustainable harvesting practices as well as domestication of plants. However, not all these approaches promote effective conservation and sustainable utilization of wild plant resources.


Introduction
Throughout history, plant resources have supported human being, providing goods such as food in the form of fruits and vegetables, materials for a variety of utensils, fodder, construction timber, fuel wood, and medicinal plants [1][2][3][4][5]. In addition, plants have also provided man with a range of cultural services, including spiritual services, inspiration, and esthetic values [6]. Therefore, sustainable plants harvesting and uses are fundamental for human survival, especially since gathering activity continue to increase in importance, in response to a growing demand for the wild plants products [7].
Globally, loss of habitat by deforestation and unsustainable harvesting methods, among other factors, threatens the survival of the plant resources in the wilderness [8][9][10][11]. This situation is dire in various African countries wherein the majority of people depend heavily on plants to meet their livelihoods [12]. Consequently, the wild plant resources are rapidly diminishing, indicating a need to adopt the management techniques that promote a sustainable harvesting practice to ensure the continual supply of plant products to meet various human livelihoods.
In Africa as is the case in other continents of the world [13][14][15][16], natural plant resource utilization and management has been in the traditions of local communities, expressed variously in the beliefs as well as practices employed in their conservation [17]. These practices includes among others, removal of few roots from plants, harvesting of a bark that is the size of the palm of one's hand, taboos and social controls promoting sustainable harvesting of plants [18]. Studies conducted in countries such as Kenya [19], Ghana [20], Lesotho [21], Zimbabwe [22], Nigeria [3], Tanzania [23], Uganda [24], Benin and Gabon [25], Rwanda [26], and Ethiopia [27] indicated that these practices are very common among the indigenous communities and have evolved through the historical interaction of people and their environment.
However, in South Africa, data on indigenous wild plant resource utilization and associated management/conservation practices are scattered in general ethnobotanical literatures [28][29][30][31][32]. This makes it difficult for policy makers and conservationists to realize the potential of traditional conservation and innovation techniques in wild indigenous plant resource conservation. The current study therefore sought to collate and describe uses of the indigenous wild plants by rural communities in the Limpopo Province (South Africa), and implemented practices contributing to the conservation as well as the management of these plants.

Diversity of useful wild indigenous plant resources
The present study documented a total of 50 useful plant species belonging to 32 botanical families, mainly the Fabaceae (28%, n = 9) and Cucurbitaceae (13%, n = 4), that are harvested by rural communities inhabiting the Limpopo Province of South Africa ( Table 1). These families are repeatedly recorded in various ethnobotanical studies conducted in South Africa [45,46] and elsewhere [46][47][48], as being highly represented with a greater number of plants exploited by indigenous people to meet their livelihoods. Cucurbitaceae and Fabaceae are not only widespread in communal lands of the Limpopo Province but they also comprise many plants commonly known as foods and natural medicine. Therefore, their predominance in this study came as no surprise. According to de Albuquerque [49], indigenous people highly value and experiments on plants that are more accessible or locally abundant. However, plant species from the rest of the botanical families were rarely harvested for their products, perhaps due to their less adaptation in a wide range of altitudes across the aforementioned province. As such, they are less susceptible targets of the local people to experiment with.

Plant utilization categories
The consumption of wild plants is an ancient African tradition which serves multiple purposes. In the present study, analysis of ethnobotanical uses categories indicated that more taxa were exploited exclusively for medicinal (n = 32) and food (n = 10) purposes. Some of the commonly harvested medicinal plants (asthma, rhinitis sinusitis, and tuberculosis), used as therapies for the mentioned ailments ( Table 1). Therapeutic applications of these species are well supported by scientific studies [36,50,51], thus partly explaining their utilization by people of the Limpopo Province. Plant-based medicines such as Alepidea amatymbica Eckl. and Zeyh, Brackenridgea zanguebarica Oliv., Celtis africana Burm.f., Encephalartos transvenosus Stapf and Burtt Davy, Mundulea sericea (Willd.) A. Chev, Rauvolfia caffra Sond., and Sclerochiton ilicifolius A. Meeuse were considered as having mysterious and magical powers used to expel evil, fight opponents, and as luck charms ( Table 1). For the food plant category, all the species were reported to be either eaten as leafy vegetable with porridge (Momordica balsamina L., Momordica boivinii Baill, and Vigna unguiculata L.) or exploited for their edible fruits (Berchemia discolor (Klotzsch) Hemsl, Dovyalis caffra (Hook. F. and Harv.) Hook. F, Grewia bicolor Juss., Pappea capensis Eckl. and Zeyh, Vangueria infausta Burch, and Ximenia caffra Sond.). The consumption of these plants by indigenous people in the Limpopo Province is primarily attributed to multiple factors including food scarcity, nutri-medicinal value, and local cultural practices.
Other categories that had explicit use were for provision of livelihoods such as firewood (n = 2; Vachellia karroo Hayne and Vachellia rehmanniana Schinz), water storage (n = 1; Breonadia salicina (Vahl) Hepper and J.R.I. Wood.). Vachellia karroo and V. rehmanniana are preferred as firewood species due to both their local availability and long burning period, which provide lasting heat and light [41].
The remaining plants, namely, Anthocleista grandiflora Gilg (used to cover maize grains to encourage germination when malt is prepared, and female bodies during rituals, and as medicine for high blood pressure), Boscia albitrunca Gilg and Believed to attract rain Least concern Prohibited from being harvested [37] Rauvolfia caffra Sond.

Asteraceae
Twig Chest pain, painful eyes, pneumonia and sore throat Least concern Harvested by hand via breaking of the required amounts in the wild [36]

Asphodelaceae
Leaf Chest pain and fatigue Least concern Harvesting involved removal of few leaves with a knife far from to the base [36] Aloe falcata Baker

Aloe marlothii A. Berger subsp. Marlothii
Leaf Chest pain, sore throat and pneumonia Least concern Harvesting involved removal of few leaves with a knife far from to the base [36] Amaryllidaceae Bulb Chlamydia and diabetes mellitus Least concern Cultivated in home gardens [38] Gethyllis namaquensis (Schonland) Oberm.

Leaf
Fodder Protected within dryland agricultural farming system [39]. Fruits can only be harvested when they have fallen to the ground. Failure to adhere is believed to cause fever or snakes would appear in homesteads [40] Fruit Least concern Tree cannot be planted in the homestead. Taboos associated with the tree are enforced through beliefs such that violators or the community will experience illnesses [40] Celtis africana Burm.f.

Fruit
Eaten as food Protected within dryland agricultural farming system [39] Celastraceae

Root
Blood disorders Least concern Only small quantity of lateral roots are harvested [41] Cucurbitaceae Fruit Headache Least concern Hand-picked and some fruits with seeds are left behind to allow natural regrowth during favorable season [36] Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai

Fruit
Lack of appetite and TB Least concern Hand-picked and some fruits with seeds are left behind to allow natural regrowth during favorable season [36] Momordica balsamina L.

Leaf Edible vegetable eaten with porridge
Least concern Only the tender leaves are selected allowing the leaves to reach maturity [40] Momordica boivinii Baill.

Leaf
Edible vegetable eaten during times of drought Least concern Only the tender leaves are selected allowing the leaves to reach maturity. Leaves must not be harvested or touched by menstruating women; otherwise, it is believed that the vegetable will shrink in size [40] Dioscoreaceae Tuber Gonorrhea Vulnerable A2cd Cultivated in home gardens [38] Dioscorea sylvatica Eckl.

Fabaceae
Stem Firewood Least concern Harvesting and felling of species from the graveyard are forbidden, because graveyards are believed to be the home of the ancestors [41] Vachellia karroo Hayne

5
The Least concern Stripped only on the eastern side leaving other sides untouched [36] Colophospermum. mopane Kirk ex Benth.

Stem and leaf
Firewood and fodder Least concern Protected within dryland agricultural farming system [39] Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight and Arn.

Construction of huts and livestock enclosures
Least concern The harvesting is restricted to matured branching stems. Felling of immature species is prohibited [42] Whole plant

Firewood
Collection is confined to the dead wood. A fine is imposed on people who cut live wood [41] Erythrina lysistemon Hutch

Bark
Chest pain, sore throat, and TB Least concern Stripped only on the eastern side leaving other sides untouched [36] Mundulea sericea (Willd.) A. Chev

Root Protect against witchcraft
Least concern The tree is prohibited from being used as firewood in homesteads where cattle are present [40] Peltophorum africanum Sond.

Bark
Post-partum Least concern Cultivated in home gardens [38] Vigna unguiculata L.

Lamiaceae
Leaf Asthma and chest pain Least concern Acquired by handpicking without breaking the twigs in homegardens [36] Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br.

Malvaceae
Fruit Eaten as food Least concern Protected within dryland agricultural farming system [39] Adansonia digitata L.

Grewia bicolor Juss Fruit
Eaten as food Least concern Protected within dryland agricultural farming system [39] Moraceae Fruit Headache Least concern Hand-picked, throwing of stones at the tree to detach fruits, knocking them down with long sticks and collecting them from the grounds [36] Ficus burkei (Miq.) Miq.

Rubiaceae
Fruit Eaten as food Least concern Only collected from the ground [ Tree used to store water Least concern Tree is prohibited from entering homesteads, and a failure to adhere to the taboo results in sterility among household members. The species is also prohibited from being used for firewood, hedge fencing, building work, or wood carving [40] Rutaceae Root HIV/AIDS Least concern Cultivated in home gardens [ After the collection of plant materials for medicinal or magical purposes, it is prohibited to take them to the house or be touched by women because they may hamper menstruation [44] Brackenridgea zanguebarica Oliv.
Used as catalyst for other medicines to enhance its potency Tree is prohibited from entering homesteads, and a failure to adhere to the taboo results in sterility among household members. The species is also prohibited from being used for firewood, hedge fencing, building work, or wood carving [40] Olacaceae Fruit Eaten as food Least concern Only collected from the ground [42] Ximenia caffra Sond.

Poaceae
Culm Broom and fodder Least concern The harvesting of the species is restricted to the culms. The base is not harvested to give the species a chance to regrow in the next season [42] Sporobolus pyramidalis P. Beauv

Pappea capensis
Eckl. and Zeyh Fruit Eaten as food Least concern Cutting of green branches and twigs for harvesting is highly prohibited [41] Verbenaceae Leaf Asthma, rhinitis sinusitis, and TB Least concern Acquired by handpicking without breaking the twigs in homegardens [36] Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng.

Zamiaceae
Bark Used to guard against evil spirits and fight enemies Least concern Only harvested by people who are trained in harvesting rituals, and are not collected from areas where people frequent, as it is believed this will diminish the effectiveness of the plant [35] Encephalartos transvenosus Stapf and Burtt Davy as a way of appeasing the ancestors and for making traditional beer) fell under the multiple-use category and were cherished for the mentioned livelihoods. Plants belonging to this category are more likely to be overharvested due to their multiple cultural values [52,53].
Overall, all the above-stated use groups is a reflection of a close relationship between the local people and their natural environment, which has led to the development of a rich knowledge based on plants, plant-use, and related practices [54]. Comparisons of our finding regarding the most dominant plant use category concur to that noted by other researchers in South Africa [55,56], and other African countries such as Ethiopia [57], Lesotho [58], and Botswana [59]. Contrary findings were noted in Kenya [47], Brazil [60], and India [61]. This may be the result of cultural differences in knowledge of the plant resource uses. Nonetheless, it should be stated that a larger number of wild plants used as medicines and foods for human was expected in this review, first due to the fact that traditional medicine is highly rooted in many cultures of the Limpopo Province [38,62,63], and second because rural people in this province grew-up eating wild edible plants and their majority live below the poverty line [64]. Thus, it is acceptable to postulate that the use of plant resources for food and medicinal purposes by indigenous people of the Limpopo Province will increase tremendously in the foreseeable future. This is because the indigenous communities have enticements to utilize and conserve wild plants when their livelihoods depend on gathering of their products.

Plant habit and used plant part/s
The growth form analysis of 50 documented useful plant resources revealed that trees (62%, n = 31), herbs (30%, n = 15), and shrubs (13%, n = 4), respectively, were harvested for their products in the present study. These are the common plant habits exploited by indigenous people in South Africa [55,65] and other African countries [57,66] to meet their various needs. It should be stated that the supremacy of trees in the present study is attributed to multifaceted factors including cultural beliefs attached to them (i.e., provision of rain) and their utilization in local ritual ceremonies and a wide range of products (i.e., medicines, foods, fodders, fruits, and firewood, among other provisions) they provide to local communities. Equally, herbaceous taxa were considerably represented mainly due to numerous values they provide (Table 1). However, the shrubby species, namely, Aloe falcata Baker, Kleinia longiflora DC, Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br. and Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng were only harvested for therapeutic purposes, which probably explain their lower preference by local communities of the Limpopo Province. Generally, sustainable harvesting of products from the afore-stated growth forms should be promoted in the Limpopo Province for the sake of both conservations of the plants and livelihoods of local people.
The actual impact of wild plant harvesting depends on the specific growth form or type of resource that is removed [67]. Different plant exudates from herbs, shrubs, and trees recorded in the current study were obtained by local communities to meet their livelihoods, with fruits, followed by leaves, bark, and roots, respectively, being the most preferred. Other plant parts were used to a lesser extent (Figure 1). The widespread use of leaves and fruits by indigenous people to meet their different needs is well documented in ethnobotanical literatures [68][69][70]. Their high uses in this study are mainly attributed to their economic value (i.e., source of cash generated from the sale of fresh fruits) and use as food supplements by many rural communities in the Limpopo Province. Other factors that contributed to high exploitation of fruits are their local abundance in many free access 9 The Utilization and Conservation of Indigenous Wild Plant Resources in the Limpopo Province… DOI: http://dx.doi.org /10.5772/intechopen.89920 communal lands of this province and the fact that they are consumed raw without any processing.
Leaves were the second most commonly used plant part and were mainly exploited as medicines and vegetable ( Table 1). Consumption of leaves for these livelihoods is locally believed to be ascribed to their efficacy as remedies and rich nutrients. From a conservation standpoint, the high harvesting of leaves is less destructive to the survival of plants [71,72]. The opposite of this can be said for bark and roots. High usage of these organs exclusively as medicines in this study is directly linked to the traditional beliefs that they store more healing power than any other plant part [44,73]. This belief, however, has a great potential to encourage their extensive harvesting, which in turn will make the targeted plant species vulnerable to overexploitation. The rest of morphological plant parts did not appear to be of great value to the indigenous people of the Limpopo Province (Figure 1).

Conservation status of plant species
The present study revealed that all 50 plant resources documented are listed on the South African National Red Data List of Plants, with the majority (82%, n = 41) appearing as Least Concern. This finding has a positive conservation implication mainly because more widespread and abundant species in the wild are included in this category [36]. Therefore, it is acceptable to state that most useful taxa in the Limpopo Province might be still fairly abundant within the wilderness.
However, 12% (n = 6) of Red Data listed plants recorded in this study are of conservation concern with the following status: Critically Endangered (Brackenridgea zanguebarica Oliv.), Endangered (Alepidea amatymbica Eckl. and Zeyh.), Near Threatened (Drimia sanguinea (Schinz) Jessop, Eucomis pallidiflora Baker. subsp. pole-evansii (N.E.Br.) Reyneke and Elaeodendron transvaalense (Burtt Davy) R.H. Archer) and Vulnerable (Dioscorea sylvatica Eckl.). The rest as either Not Evaluated (4%, n = 2) or have Data Deficient (2%, n = 1) status. It is worth stating that most of the abovementioned species are constantly reported by plant resource harvesters in the Limpopo Province as very difficult to find in their natural habitats, with prime rationale being excessive exploitation for commercial purposes [35,74]. Another factor put forward by indigenous people of the Limpopo Province that jeopardize these plants is gathering by outsiders and other local people who are not trained on both the traditional harvesting of useful wild plants and approaches to conservation.

Traditional plant conservation strategies
Interestingly, this study also revealed that the indigenous people of the Limpopo Province, who depend on the recorded wild plant resources for survival, have evolved ways of managing them (Table 1). Generally, traditional leaders (i.e., chiefs and headmen) are the ones managing the utilization of these resources via traditional rules and regulations, and this is common practice in other provinces of South Africa [75] and other African countries [76]. On the contrary, Kepe [77] found that in areas that are held as common property by all villagers in Mkambati area of the Eastern Cape Province (South Africa), people do not have to ask for permission to collect wild plant resources. In the present study, anyone who breaks the traditional management strategies were fined a certain amount of money and restricted to harvest wild plant resources for a specified period of time. Overall, the traditional approaches used in this study to conserve plant diversity encompass the following;

Traditional beliefs and taboos
These techniques are used to guide the social behavior of the community members in the harvesting of wild plant resources [78,79]. For instance, organs from plant species with medicinal value particularly those that are used for magical purposes such as A. amatymbica (rhizome), E. transvenosus (bark), and S. ilicifolius (root) are only collected by people who are trained in harvesting rituals and are not obtained from areas where people frequent, as it is believed this will diminish the efficacy of the medication [35]. Generally, from a conservation standpoint, the effectiveness of traditional practices associated with all the abovementioned magical plants are overshadowed by the fact that they have other values (i.e., nonmedicinal magical values), which are not regulated by the traditional beliefs systems. We concur with Mowo et al. [80] who stated that despite the strengths, some traditional practices have weaknesses that may limit their use in management plans that favor sustainability.
Similarly, C. africana which is used to make medicine to protect against witchcraft is not allowed to be planted in the homestead, and failure to adhere to this is believed to results in to the violators or the community members being infected with illnesses [40]. Although this taboo might create fear among the community members and thus instill the value of respect for the species which will ultimately serve to limit its harvesting, this can only be effective if C. africana is wholly used for magical purposes. Unfortunately, studies conducted in the Limpopo Province indicated C. africana is a multipurpose tree, that is in addition of being valued for magic purposes, it is also highly harvested as drug for nose, ear, and tooth infections [63], for vegetable and craftwork [45].
The same can be said for B. zanguebarica; traditionally, after the collection of materials for medicinal or magical purposes from this tree, it is prohibited to take them to the house or be touched by women because they may hamper menstruation [44]. However, the over-exploitation of B. zanguebarica within its natural area of occurrence [81], and its frequent availability in muthi shops (shops selling medicinal plants) owned by females across the Limpopo province [35,41] is a clear indication that most local people, especially commercial harvesters do not follow the traditional taboos that are relevant in promoting the plants' conservation.

11
The Utilization and Conservation of Indigenous Wild Plant Resources in the Limpopo Province… DOI: http://dx.doi.org /10.5772/intechopen.89920 Therefore, the use of traditional beliefs as an instrument of conserving B. zanguebarica would not be possible without the harvesters' compliance.
Another plant species valued as medicine for magic, M. sericea, is prohibited from being used as firewood in homesteads where cattle are present [40]. This however can only aid in the conservation of M. sericea in deep rural areas of the Limpopo Province wherein the use of firewood and cattle nurturing is prevalent in many households, but with no additional uses attached to it for other livelihoods. The prohibition of R. caffra from being harvested due to the traditional beliefs that it attracts rain, as a conservation strategy [37], will not have great impact due to the fact that local rural communities also rely on the species for the provision of wood for craftwork and medicine [45].
Restricted harvesting and felling of V. karroo and V. rehmanniana from the graveyards, due to the belief that these areas are ancestral home [41], can only aid in the conservation of these trees found in the graveyards and provided that local community strictly adhere to such belief. Overall, the effectiveness of traditional beliefs and taboos for the conservation of plant resources as instituted by traditional leaders in the Limpopo Province is hindered by numerous factors such as noncompliance by community members, traditional leaders being inexperienced in implementing and enforcing regulations, as well as very young leaders who do not command respect [41]. This is in contrast with the finding of Gwali et al. [24] who stated that in rural areas of Uganda, the enforcement of traditional beliefs and taboos is very difficult due to high economic and social depression resulting from the long and protracted period of political and social instability. Thus, it can be said that certain taboos and traditional bye-laws may not be adequate conservation approaches for wild plant resources in many rural communities of Africa including the Limpopo Province. Comprehensive studies focusing on traditional belief systems used in the management of wild plant resources across this province would shed light on those that promote the effective conservation.

Sustainable harvesting practices
Findings from this study also revealed that indigenous people of the Limpopo Province have developed the sustainable harvesting strategies of diverse parts from the recorded wild plant resources. Harvesting of bulb from D. sanguinea (Schinz) Jessop., E. pallidiflora Baker. subsp. pole-evansii (N.E.Br.) Reyneke, and Tulbaghia violacea Harv. var. violacea basically involve their cutting with a knife from the base leaving roots in the ground intact. This practice will encourage the reproduction and regeneration of the harvested species, therefore ensuring the continual supply of the product from the same taxa. Similarly, selective collection of only older tubers from Kirkia wilmsii Engl. [35] and small quantity of Gymnosporia senegalensis (Lam.) Loes lateral roots [41] will not have detrimental effect on the survival of this tree.
Generally, the traditional techniques used to obtain leaves in this study seemed to be sustainable. For instance, their harvesting from species such as Aloe marlothii A. Berger subsp. marlothii and A. falcata Baker involved the removal of few leaves with a knife far from the base. This harvesting technique encourages re-growth of leaves post collection [82]. Similarly, collection of L. leonurus by handpicking without breaking and cutting the twigs/branches minimize damages to the trunk, thus leaving the tree less susceptible to disease infestation. The same can be said with the harvesting of K. longiflora twigs, which were obtained by hand via breaking of the required amounts in the wild. Explicit harvesting of tender leaves from M. balsamina, M. boivinii, and V. unguiculata for consumption as vegetable allows the leaves to reach maturity [40]. This in turn allows the species to reach maturity stage and regrow in the subsequent season [42].
The methods of obtaining fruits from species such as Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai, Cucumis zeyheri Sond., and Pappea capensis Eckl. and Zeyh includes hand-picking without breaking the twigs. This method is also common among indigenous people of Africa [83][84][85]. In addition to being hand-picked, Ficus burkei (Miq.) Miq. fruits were also harvested by throwing stones at the trees to detach them and subsequently collecting from the grounds [36]. Fruits from Vangueria infausta Burch. and Ximenia caffra Sond. are only allowed to be obtained from the ground following abscission [42]. Although this harvesting method is sustainable, collection of a greater number of fruits from the ground has the potential to inhibit natural seeds dispersal, which will ultimately affect the population expansion. This is because fruits play an important role in the seed dispersal of many of the abovementioned plants.
Bark is harvested from trees such as Cassia abbreviata Oliv. subsp. beareana (Holmes) Brenan, Cryptocarya transvaalensis Burtt Davy, Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight and Arn., and Erythrina lysistemon Hutch., only on the eastern side leaving other sides untouched ( Table 1). An assessment of the recovery rate of bark growth post-exploitation using this method showed a good healing wound, thus suggesting that the impact of its harvesting does not affect the existence of the species [86]. A possible explanation for this is that tree receives adequate sunlight on the eastern site, which plays a crucial role in the healing process.

Domestication
Two systems of wild plant cultivation practiced by indigenous people of the Limpopo Province include (a) propagation in the home gardens and (b) an agroforestry system where by naturally growing plants are maintained and protected within dryland agricultural farming system. Species domesticated in the home gardens encompassed B. albitrunca, D. sylvatica, Drimia elata Jacq., E. transvaalense, Gethyllis namaquensis (Schonland) Oberm, H. hemerocallidea, Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng, Peltophorum africanum Sond., S. birrea, Zanthoxylum capense Harv., and Zanthoxylum humile (E.A.Bruce) P.G.Waterman. Cultivation of these plants is generally attributed to their increasing scarcity in the wilderness. This initiative, nevertheless, has the potential to lessen harvesting pressure of the aforementioned species occurring in the wilderness and ensure instant supply of their required part/s. Furthermore, it will aid in the conservation of threatened therapeutic species such as D. sylvatica and E. transvaalense. However, this can have conservation impacts only if the users harvest the plants exclusively from their home gardens. Wiersum et al. [87] found that medicinal plant domestication by indigenous people is less based on preserving biodiversity, but more on maximizing harvest to certify individual needs and to generate income.
Native wild trees such as Adansonia digitata L., B. discolor, C. mopane, D. caffra, and G. bicolor that grew naturally in the local agricultural farming system were managed and conserved in order to obtain sustainable multiple supply of desired products and services from them ( Table 1). This is a common practice among rural communities in other provinces of South Africa [88], other African countries [89,90], and elsewhere [91]. Generally, adaptation of agroforestry practices of conserving A. digitata, B. discolor, C. mopane, D. caffra, and G. bicolor by cultural communities in the Limpopo Province will not only contribute towards the provision of food and cultural materials but will also enhance local environmental resilience. The role of traditional agroforestry practices in this regard cannot be overemphasized [92][93][94][95]. To realize the effective role played by these practices in the conservation of wild indigenous plant resources, we recommend that 13 The Utilization and Conservation of Indigenous Wild Plant Resources in the Limpopo Province… DOI: http://dx.doi.org /10.5772/intechopen.89920 indigenous communities of the Limpopo Province should prioritize the tree species, which provide multiple useful products and ecosystem services.

Conclusions
The present study should be viewed as an initial attempt to comprehend the utilization of wild plant resources and their traditional conservation strategies in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Overall, this study indicated that rural people are endowed with extensive knowledge on native wild plant uses and associated innovative techniques of conserving them as evidenced in Table 1. However, not all the practices associated with the latter promote effective conservation and sustainable use of wild plant resources. As such, those that promote the protection of plants should be promoted and integrated in the local management plans of flora. This is will go a long way in complementing the contemporary conservation approaches (i.e., legislative measures) of wild plant resources, and ultimately ensure the continual availability of these resources for poor rural households of the Limpopo Province and other areas of South Africa.