industry summary

Rooibos tea is a uniquely South African tea with numerous health benefits produced mainly in the Cederberg, Bokkeveld and Sandveld areas of the Western Cape, situated in the Cape Floristic Region - a global biodiversity hotspot. Over 9 000 tonnes of rooibos is produced per annum, approximately 40% of which is exported to key markets, including Germany, Holland, Japan, China, the UK, the USA and Eastern Europe, a small percentage of which certified as organic and with Fairtrade. The industry has seen an exponential increase in demand in recent years - 742% growth between 1993 and 2003. An average of 2.7ha of Northern Sandveld natural vegetation is cleared daily, much of this illegally.

impact on biodiversity

The total South African rooibos industry footprint is currently 60 000ha, approximately half of which is produced in the Sandveld region - the second most highly threatened ecosystem in the country and in the heart of Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor. Under 50% of the Sandveld remains untransformed and rapid rooibos industry expansion is constantly increasing pressure on critical biodiversity. The region's most threatened vegetation type is Swartland Shale Renosterveld (over 90% transformed), followed by Leipoldtville, Hopefield and Graafwater Sand Fynbos. The region is home to 58 rare and threatened plant species - 30 of which are endemic (found nowhere else) - and 6 endemic vegetation types.

conservation response

The Rooibos Biodiversity Initiative

• In response to the concerning rate of transformation of endangered habitat in the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor (GCBC), the Rooibos Biodiversity Initiative aims to implement Biodiversity Best Practice Guidelines - based on economic, social and environmental principles - with the rooibos industry in the region.
• To date, the guidelines have been developed and are being implemented with 25 pilot farmers, who aim to aim to be well on their way to accreditation by the end of 2008.
• The initiative is being lead by the South African Rooibos Council (SARC) and CapeNature, with additional sponsorship from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and through the C.A.P.E. programme.

key resources

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	Rooibos Tea Biodiversity Initiative 2 (243.37kb)	Download
	Rooibos Tea Biodiversity Initiative 1 (588.14kb)	Download