A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master’s in Life Sciences at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and
Technology
Zanthoxylum chalybeum (Rutaceae) is subject to heavy exploitation throughout its areas of
occurrence in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite being a common medicinal plant utilized by a large
population, little has been documented regarding the constraints which hinder its promotion and
conservation concerns within the country. This study was conducted to determine distribution and
conservation challenges facing medicinal plant Zanthoxylum chalybeum on different land uses
types surveyed at Simanjiro area. The most available roads were used as line transects to observe Z.
chalybeum distribution in the study area. Plots were established for data collection whereby GPS
coordinates (tree presence- absent), tree numbers and anthropogenic threats were the collected
information. In addition, open-ended, semi-structured questionnaires and focused group
discussions (FGD) were used to capture information on the uses, availability, conservation
challenges and management of the plant in the study area. Results indicated that the distribution
of Z. chalybeum in the area differ significantly across the land-use types surveyed in this study by
having many trees in hunting blocks within game-controlled areas and open areas (49 and 40
respectively). Anthropogenic threats signs observed included debarking (51%), branch cut
(20.6%) and root digging (15.8%). It was observed that the majority of the households use Z.
chalybeum for gynecological diseases (such as blood loss after labor, menstrual pain, early
pregnancy complications) (86.4%). The main conservation challenges included unsustainable
change in land use (99.9%) and inadequate conservation education and awareness. This study
recommends more conservation efforts such as active planting of the species, regulated utilization
of the Z. chalybeum species and increased education and awareness to be implemented by
authorities in game-controlled areas and open areas and also conservation education should be
provided to members of the community.