104
65 Rodney Sibuye, Marie-Tinka Uys, Gino Cocchiaro and Johan Lorenzen
(BCPs). Interested in the possibility of
using such approaches, researchers working with the K2C management committee
conducted data collection surveys in each
of the core, buffer and transition zones of
the UNESCO-registered biosphere. They
looked at how Marula trees, firewood,
broom grass and medicinal plants are
collected, with a view to developing a
biocultural protocol linking traditional
methods of gathering to conservation.5
In May 2009, a preliminary meeting
was held between a small group of healers
who were connected to a medicinal plants
nursery in the region, Vukuzenzele, and
representatives of K2C management
committee. They investigated the potential
for initiating a BCP process with the traditional healers. The process then began with
a meeting of 26 traditional healers,
members of the K2C management
committee and Natural Justice to discuss
the healers’ concerns regarding the illegal
harvesting of medicinal plants from the
K2C, and potential cases of biopiracy.
Presentations were made on the People
and Parks Programme as well as the work
of Natural Justice and the use of biocultural
protocols.6
Following this initial gathering, the
traditional healers held regular meetings
to share their views, discuss ways to
address their concerns and learn more
about the laws relating to the conservation
of medicinal plants and the protection of
TK. This also provided the traditional healers with an opportunity to learn about
access and benefit-sharing (ABS) laws
under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the South African
Biodiversity Act.7 This process fostered a
sense of identity as traditional healers that
had not previously existed among them,
given the large geographical distances
between them and their two separate
cultures and language groups. Over the
period of these initial meetings the traditional healers also began to plan how they
could form an organisation of healers to
meet the challenges identified and become
registered as traditional healers with the
Ministry of Health.
The process of BCP development led to
the formation of the Traditional Health
Practitioners of Bushbuckridge, now
known as the Kukula Traditional Health
Practitioners Association. The group began
with 80 members and now has swelled to
almost 300 healers, primarily women. The
association consists of a management
committee of 26 people, six of whom are
part of the executive committee, elected on
an annual basis by all members of the association. The executive committee assists
the association in engaging with other
stakeholders in K2C, including business
and government, to co-ordinate the development and utilisation of the BCP.
During a two-day workshop in mid2009 involving Kukula’s executive
committee, the K2C management
committee and Natural Justice, the executive committee members volunteered to
participate in a facilitation group (along
with Natural Justice and K2C) to collect
information from all members of the association involved in the BCP. At this
workshop the facilitation group selected
six goals for facilitating the BCP development process:
• Build credibility, trust and mutual respect
among traditional healers.
• Identify the healers’ concerns and values
and ensure they are fully understood by
asking probing questions and reflections.
• Facilitate consensus among the healers by
ensuring that all opinions are heard and
considered.
• Make sure all participants are part of the
process and ensure they feel part of a
5 Marulas are South African trees found in much of Kruger Park. Many parts of the tree have
been used since ancient times, including the bark, the leaves, fruit, nut and kernels.
6 A South African programme that engages local communities in preserving protected areas.
See: www.peopleandparks.com/about/learn
7 Biodiversity Act no. 10 of 2004, South Africa.