Vulnerability Index
Sustainable Harvesting Programme toolkit
What is the Vulnerability Index?
The Vulnerability Index (or VI as it’s known), helps to determine which fynbos species can be harvested, and which shouldn’t be picked on the Agulhas Plain.
The VI forms part of the Sustainable Harvesting Programme toolkit.
Here’s how it works:
The index lists 150 species found on the Agulhas Plain. Around half of these are already picked for markets around the world. The other half are not yet picked – but have the potential to be harvested over time. Botanists examined each of these species, based on biological criteria. They created a guideline setting out how each of these species would be affected if they were harvested.
(0 being safe to harvest, and 11 indicating a great risk should the species be picked).
This is based on a scale of 0 – 11
VI SCORE
Based on the VI score, we can therefore see:
- Which species can be picked;
- Which species can be picked, but must be monitored because it could become increasingly threatened;
- Which species must not be picked because it could result in the species going extinct.
Our Sustainable Harvesting Programme team, and the conservation authorities (CapeNature) use the VI in conjunction with the SANBI Red Data List, to determine which species can and can’t be harvested.
The VI differs from the SANBI Red Data List in that it:
– Only looks at the impact of harvesting (fynbos faces other threat as well)
– Currently only looks at natural fynbos populations on the Agulhas Plain, where most harvesting occurs (there are plans to develop new Vulnerability Indices for other regions).
The Vulnerability Index has been recognised internationally as an important contributor to conservation in the fynbos biome.
See our Vulnerability Index score for some of those fynbos species harvested on the Agulhas Plain in our Field Guide For Wild Flower Harvesting.
Our Blog
Our Featured Stories

Does fynbos training really make a difference?
Over the past two years, 138 fynbos harvesters received training in how to harvest fynbos sustainably. They were trained in their own home language (Afrikaans, isiXhosa and English).

Tips on making your nature photos come to life (Nature Photography Day)
The difference between an average photograph and an eye-catching one doesn’t necessarily require you to buy a new camera.

#EnvironmentDay quiz: Do you know your fynbos?
How well do you know your fynbos? This Environment Day (Friday 5 June), the world takes Time for Nature (2020’s theme). So take a moment to test your fynbos knowledge (there are just 10 super quick questions). Do it simply #ForNature.

Alien clearing: Some good news (amid COVID-19 impacts)
The Coronavirus may have ended our first year of the new ABI Alien Clearing Project, implemented by Flower Valley Conservation Trust, earlier than we had planned.

Can’t get out into nature? We’re bringing some fynbos to you instead
Did you know that exposure to plants can boost your health? And in times of lockdown – they can especially support your mental and emotional health.

Is wild fynbos harvesting viable without Silver Brunia?
A new study has highlighted the importance of Silver Brunia (Brunia laevis) as an economic driver for fynbos harvesters. And the potential threats this could hold for the species – and for fynbos pickers.

Tips on how to remove 3 new invasive plant species
It’s quite simply not that easy to remove any invasive alien plant. Each species requires a different technique to try to prevent it from re-growing.

Look out for these 3 ‘new’ threatening invasive plants
Three new and emerging invasive alien species are being targeted on the Agulhas Plain. The plan is to rid the area of these three species – before they spread beyond their current farm boundaries, threatening our region’s biodiversity.

An unusual day in the life of a Field Monitor
Climbing a fynbos mountain daily, seeing wildlife up close and personal? That’s exactly what fynbos harvesting teams do every day while picking stems for the market.

Fynbos foodie options and their medicinal benefits
Fynbos offers a number of tasty foodie options. So on World Food Day (16 October), we’re taking a slightly different view of fynbos – to see how to use fynbos in food (responsibly, of course), and some of the medicinal benefits.
Our Network