Moringa oleifera Lam. is listed In South Africa as Species Under Surveillance for Possible Eradication or Containment Targets (SUSPECT) under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 (NEM:BA), although it is widely used in some communities. We conducted this study to investigate local ecological knowledge (LEK) and perceptions about moringa in the rural communities of Limpopo Province (South Africa). We used a structured questionnaire and open-ended interviews with 106 informants to gather ethnobotanical data associated with utilisation and perceptions of moringa. We found that moringa is generally perceived positively and is used primarily for medicinal purposes, its nutrition value, as livestock feed, and for skin care. Most participants (76%) were unaware that moringa is an alien species and disagreed with NEM:BA regulations to restrict its spread or to eradicate it entirely due to the benefits they associate with it. We argue that listing moringa as SUSPECT could fuel conflict between rural communities that use it and management authorities. Rather, we would urge policymakers to adopt a holistic approach to sustainable conservation strategies that incorporates LEK in future planning.

辣木我是。在南非，根据国家环境管理：2004 年第 10 号生物多样性法案 (NEM:BA)，该物种被列为可能根除或遏制目标监视物种 (SUSPECT)，尽管它在一些社区得到广泛使用。我们进行这项研究的目的是调查林波波省（南非）农村社区的当地生态知识 (LEK) 和对辣木的看法。我们使用结构化问卷和对 106 名知情人的开放式访谈来收集与辣木利用和认知相关的民族植物学数据。我们发现辣木普遍受到积极评价，主要用于药用、营养价值、牲畜饲料和皮肤护理。大多数参与者 (76%) 不知道辣木是外来物种，并且不同意 NEM：由于其带来的好处，英国航空管理局（BA）制定了限制其传播或完全根除它的规定。我们认为，将辣木列为可疑物质可能会加剧使用辣木的农村社区与管理当局之间的冲突。相反，我们敦促政策制定者对可持续保护战略采取整体方法，将 LEK 纳入未来规划。