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More than 20 species have been identified. The plants have woody stems, a relatively low ratio of leaves to stems and hard-shelled seeds that germinate poorly if not scarified prior to germination. Leaves are trifoliate and leaf-shape varies considerably, from pubescent, narrow-leafed to flat. During the flowering period, the bushes are easily recognised in the field as they are covered with distinctive, deep-yellow flowers which have a characteristic sweet honey scent. Flowering usually occurs in spring, with the exception of one species that flowers during the winter. Cyclopia, endemic to the fynbos biome has, as the herbal tea, honeybush, strong cultural and historical roots in South Africa. It grows naturally on farms, designated forestry areas and nature conservation land. The flowers, leaves and stems of Cyclopia had been used as a source of tea over a wide area of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces during the previous century (Honey Bush Business Plan 2010).

A funding proposal to sustainably harvest honey bush tea on the Formosa Nature Reserve has been prepared, annexure 1; in order to be implemented, Agency will need to determine whether honey bush tea is sustainable in the long term given the challenges of climate change and funding. In order for honey bush tea to be sustainably harvested on a protected area, the guidelines outlined in the natural resource policy need to be adhered to and a determination must be made as to whether the honey bush can in fact be sustainably harvested over a sustained period, how it is harvested and the effects that fire and harvesting has its natural increase.

It is important that a long term project be developed where the local communities benefit from the project and take ownership of the project. Long term harvesting will more than likely be detrimental to the natural stocks of honey bush and it therefore important that honey bush tea be cultivated along the same lines as Rooibos tea is cultivated in the Northern and Western Cape where community ownership is important in long term sustainability and local economic growth.

According to the honey bush business plan 2010, there are 230 ha of honey bush under cultivation with most of the tea harvested from its natural habitat in mountains. During 2009, 150 tons of honey bush were produced with an approximate value of R 8.3 Million for local markets and R 3.8 Million in exports.

SUSTAINABILITY RISK AND OPPORTUNITIES

Risk management is a cyclical approach that must be repeated regularly during the course of a project or assessment. Risk management begins with an analysis of the risks and with the aid of risk analysis, insights into the risks within a project or assessment can be gained systematically and the measures used to approach these risks can be evaluated. The risk process is not one off and therefore risks have to be monitored on a regular basis and controlled (Van Well – Stam et al, 2004). This cyclical nature is shown in figure 1.

Fig 1: The cyclical nature of risk management

Risk Analysis

Determine the objective

Identify the risks

Determine the most important risks

Identify the control measures

Source: Van Well – Stam et al, 2004

RISK MANAGEMENT

Perform risk analysis (RISMAN method)

Update risk analysis