An escalating trade in orchid tubers across Tanzania's Southern Highlands:assessment, dynamics and conservation implications

Abstract

Kinaka or Chikanda has been eaten by people in parts of Zambia,northern Malawi and south-western Tanzania for hundreds of years. Prepared from theboiled root tubers of terrestrial orchids, and principally from species of thegenera Disa, Habenaria and Satyrium, it was formerly a traditionalvillage delicacy and did not pose a threat to orchid populations. However, the pastdecade has witnessed a dramatic rise in demand in Zambia, particularly in urbanareas. This has triggered a burgeoning commercial market and has now promptedtraders to seek tubers from Tanzania's Southern Highlands, an important centreof endemism for upland species of orchid. The resulting cross-border trade, itsdynamics and the implications for Tanzanian orchids are reported here for the firsttime. Whilst all orchid species are in CITES Appendix II, collectors are currentlyharvesting between 2.2 and 4.1 million tubers per year for export to, andconsumption in, neighbouring Zambia. As many as 85 species may be at risk from thistrade, and there is evidence that large areas in Ufipa, Mbeya and Kipengere havealready been stripped of their orchids. A decline in traditional Tanzanianconsumption of Kinaka seems to be having little or no impact on harvestingvolumes. Orchid collection across the Southern Highlands is now escalating at a ratethat may be far from sustainable. The consequences for Tanzanian biodiversity andfor one of Africa's most important areas for orchids are profound.