Govt acts to stop illegal lithops trafficking

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has intensified efforts to curb the illegal harvesting and trade of Namibia’s iconic lithops plant, warning that the highly sought-after succulents are increasingly targeted by organised wildlife trafficking networks.

Lithops are desert plants, also known as ‘living stones’ or ‘pebble plants’.

The ministry says illegal collection threatens the survival of the slow-growing plants, which are endemic to Namibia and protected under national legislation and international conservation agreements.