Knowledge of Formal and Informal Regulations Affecting Wild Plant Foraging Practices in Urban Spaces in South Africa

Abstract

Although foraging wild plants is commonly perceived to be synonymous with rural areas, it is now increasingly recognized in urban areas. Notwithstanding, the regulations conditioning access to and rights to foraging in urban green spaces have seldom been examined. This study explored the formal and informal regulations governing access to and defining rights to forageable plant resources in the towns of Potchefstroom and Thabazimbi, South Africa. A random sample of 374 households was considered for the survey, complemented by in-depth interviews with 26 participants. Foraging occurred in a variety of public and private spaces, with the frequency of access differing with the type of space. The majority of the respondents were unaware of formal and informal regulations governing access to and use of urban landscapes. Recognizing foraging activities in urban landscapes is a fundamental step toward fostering active community involvement in the management and production of urban green spaces.

Keywords:

• Access
• food justice and sovereignty
• green spaces
• regulations
• social justice
• urban foraging

Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the generous participation of the communities of Potchefstroom and Thabazimbi in this study. We would like to thank anonymous reviewers for the insightful and constructive comments they offered in preparation for this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) (Project ID: 01DG16015); the mobility grant from German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) (Project ID: 57353580).