Local management of plants Traditional rules and regulations (Table 2) are the only adopted strategies for the management of plants in the studied villages. The most common ones were restric- tion of people from entering some areas of communal lands, cutting green plants, cutting trees in the grave- yard, soil collection in the communal lands, harvesting of some species during certain seasons, exclusive harvesting of leaves of certain species, and collection of lateral roots from plants used medicinally. Some of these traditional rules and regulations are universal amongst different ethnic groups in African countries [9,40-45]. Participants in the current study indicated that chiefs and indunas (headmen of the village) enforce the com- pliance rules and regulations in villages. Most partici- pants indicated that they are restricted from entering certain areas of communal lands, as these are considered sacred, and viewed by traditional leaders as a way of pre- serving cultural heritage. Another control mentioned by participants was the cutting of green plants in the wild, and felling of trees in graveyards. Cutting of green branches and twigs of P. capensis (in the wild) was prohibited, with only harvesting of its fruits allowed. Similarly, felling of A. karroo, A. rehmanniana and P. africanum from the graveyard was forbidden, because graveyards are believed to be the home of the ancestors, who bring peace in the village. Thus collection of any