While many natural resources are pushed to breaking point, two Limpopo villages are proving that protecting what feeds you is the most powerful investment of all.
Limpopo, South Africa (24 April 2026) – Long before sustainability became a buzzword, two villages in Limpopo were already living it… protecting what feeds them, supports them and connects them to generations before them.
New research from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has uncovered something remarkable happening in the rural communities of Muyexe and Matiyane, tucked along the eastern border of the Kruger National Park. While many woodlands across southern Africa face depletion from overharvesting, these villages are doing the opposite… keeping their mopane and marula trees standing, thriving and productive.
For families here, the trees are not just part of the landscape; they are lifelines. Mopane worms provide nutrition and income, while marula fruits offer both sustenance and opportunity. Losing access to these natural resources would ripple through every part of daily life.
As Prof Ndidzulafhi Innocent Sinthumule explains, “Losing access to the harvest represents a critical blow to food security and income for rural people. Practically, it means losing a key, free source of nutrition, and essential cash for school fees and uniforms. The harvest is a traditional food security safety net when food is scarce. For rural women, it is a primary income opportunity.”
And it is women, particularly those over the age of 50, who are leading the charge.
In Muyexe, harvesting mopane worms is done by hand, with patience and respect for the natural cycle. Instead of cutting branches to reach them, villagers wait for the worms to come down to the ground. It is a simple practice but one that protects the trees and ensures the cycle continues year after year. As one woman shared, cutting branches simply is not allowed… and more importantly, it is not needed. In Matiyane, the same philosophy guides the marula harvest. Fruit is only collected once it has fallen to the ground, leaving the trees untouched and able to continue producing season after season.
These are not rules written into formal legislation. They are guided by something far older and far more powerful… cultural belief systems passed down through generations.
“Cutting any tree species that bear fruits is considered a taboo because these trees, particularly the Marula, are vital for food security, economic livelihood, and cultural survival. The trees ensure the villagers’ survival during droughts,” says Sinthumule.
This “taboo” is, in reality, a sophisticated form of long-term thinking. It is ancestral knowledge at work, teaching each new generation to think beyond immediate needs and consider those who will come after them. Even a marula tree growing in someone’s yard is protected under this shared understanding.
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There is structure too. In Muyexe, anyone from outside the community who wants to harvest mopane worms must apply for permission, pay a permit fee and follow strict guidelines set by local chiefs and tribal councils. Enforcement happens within the community itself and the system works so well that in the past five years, there have been no recorded violations.
“The Muyexe system in South Africa works. Similar areas in Namibia and Zimbabwe struggle,” adds Sinthumule. “Muyexe effectively utilizes Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) through strict, culturally rooted local rules and enforced taboos. They don’t rely solely on weak state law enforcement.”
Of course, there are challenges. Rising commercial demand, especially across borders, is putting pressure on these natural resources. Premature and excessive harvesting could undo years of careful stewardship if not managed correctly. Sinthumule is calling for stronger protections, including no-harvest periods at the start of the season and systems that prioritise local, small-scale harvesters.
But even with these pressures, what is happening in Muyexe and Matiyane stands as one of the most inspiring examples of community-led conservation anywhere in the region.
It is about people choosing sustainability over short-term gain. It is about communities protecting their future with intention. And it is about knowledge, culture and care working together to create something that lasts.
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