Conserving the indigenous relatives of crop species

Sclerocarya birrea and its conservation practices by the people of Ga-Makhushane and Tshivhongweni villages.In each village 35 homesteads were randomly selected whereby older people were interviewed to obtain information about whether there was knowledge transfer from the older generation to the younger generation and also about the conservation practices used to protect the plant.It was found that 91% and 94% of the participants from Ga-Makhushane and Tshivhongweni respectively indicated that there is knowledge transfer on the uses of S. birrea.Participants of both villages reported prohibition of cutting of this tree by tribal authorities.The benefits obtained from this tree are seen to play a greater role in promoting knowledge transfer to the younger generation and also conservation practices in both villages; this is because it has high cultural, economic and social values.