Implementation of Wildlife Economy by the SANParks

Wildlife Economy by SANParks SANParks recognises the history of national parks as islands of priviledge for the elite, despite high poverty levels in communities that surround them. Despite this, national parks have been, by virtue of their existence, catalysts of rural and local economic development through creation of jobs and anchoring tourism Recently, SANParks has redefined its five year strategy to focus on Socio-Economic Development as one of its strategic pillars, along with Conservation and Tourism. The Wildlife Economy Programme is one of the mechanisms SANParks uses to contribute to Socio-Economic Development.

Wildlife Economy by SANParks The Socio-Economic Development pillar has a number of programmes to maximise benefits to surrounding communities, which include: - Green (Wildlife Economy) and Blue (Marine) Economy Programmes - Corporate Social Investment Programme - Developmental Approach to Resolution of Land Claims - Expanded Public Works Programme However, SANParks alone cannot solve all the challenges in the communities that surround national parks. A cooperative approach is needed involves multiple departments, the three tiers of government and public-private partnerships.

Green (Wildlife Economy) Programme SANParks contributes to the implementation of the Department of Environmental Affairs’ (DEA) Wildlife Economy Expansion Empowerment and Development Programme. One of the specific objectives of DEA’s Programme is growth, fair access and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the wildlife economy. SANParks Wildlife Economy Programme is informed by this government driven process towards the transformation of the wildlife economy in South Africa.

Green (Wildlife Economy) Programme SANParks made a pledge in October 2015 at Biodiversity Economy Indaba to avail over 500 head of game worth approximately R10m over 3 years to communities adjacent to national parks. SANParks Wildlife Economy Programme is defined by two options;   Wildlife donation: offers the opportunity for local communities to own game and to participate in the wildlife economy centred on game farming activities relating to the stocking, breeding, trading and related eco-tourism activities. Wildlife loan: serves to assist emerging game farmers to develop the skills and capacity to enter into and play a meaningful role in the wildlife economy. Recipient enters into an agreement with SANParks either to return loaned animals after an agreed period of time or donate an agreed number of animals, at SANParks’ discretion, to future applicants

Green (Wildlife Economy) Programme Implementation to date: 1. Opportunity identified Request received from recipient 2. Compliance check Check for mandatory requirements 3. Technical review Steering Committee review and refer for feasibility assessment 4. Feasibility assessment Site visit inspection by specialist team Governance process 7. Implementation Planning, translocation and monitoring 6. Approval Official approval and signing of agreement 5. Recommendation Generate an integrated recommendation

Green (Wildlife Economy) Programme - donations

Green (Wildlife Economy) Programme - donations Community Park Request Donation Species Est. Value Khomani San Kgalagadi NP 437 animals Mixed R1.3m Mashishimale Village Kruger NP 50 animals R520k Matsila Village 5 animals Buffalo R2.1m

Green (Wildlife Economy) Programme - donations Implementation to date Feasibility studies conducted in respect of a number of community properties including: Bevhula / Gidjana adjacent to KNP, Riemvasmaak adjacent to Augrabies Falls NP, Enon / Besheba adjacent to Addo, Baphalane and Matlabatsi adjacent to Marakele.

Green (Wildlife Economy) Programme - donations Implementation to date Kruger National Park serves as a key source for several wildlife initiatives in support communities during hardship times (i.e. drought) e.g. removal of animals for meat distribution to; disadvantaged, low income communities on the border of Kruger NP the National School Feeding Scheme for primary schools by supplementing protein in the form of game meat products (break-dry biltong outside of park) develop community entrepreneurial businesses/value added chains Kruger NP staff at reduced cost.

Green (Wildlife Economy) Programme - donations Implementation to date SANParks Wildlife Economy support given in respect of a number of aspects to communities including game breeding, hunting and wildlife-based ecotourism. While hunting does not take place in national parks, permits are issued by provincial authorities for hunting in areas adjacent to national parks where there is an open border with the national park. Hunting as a viable form of income generation is supported in the Makuleke and Makuya areas adjacent to and open to the Kruger National Park. Ecotourism support has been implemented through a number of initiatives including the development of the Aoub Lodge in Kgalagadi and the Lendlovu Lodge in Addo.

Green (Wildlife Economy) Programme - loans

Green (Wildlife Economy) Programme - loans Implementation to date EMERGING GAME FARMERS ELIGIBLE FOR SANPARKS LOAN WINDOW 1 Publication of SANParks Wildlife Loan Initiative done in National newspapers as well as SANParks website To redress the historic exclusion of previously disadvantaged individuals from game farming industry To support emerging game farmers in enhancing their capacity and expertise required for entrepreneurial development of the loaned wildlife

Green (Wildlife Economy) Programme - loans The process To supply founder herds to applicants and raise awareness for conservation, protected area management and sustainable utilization principles in the wildlife industry. Recipients to either return the loaned animals after an agreed period of time or SANParks to donate an agreed number of off-springs. 68 applications received: only 42 eligible and considered for evaluation. 12 applicants recommended for site visit inspection.

Green (Wildlife Economy) Programme – loans Assessment criteria Background checks Applications were assessed for functionality in accordance with 8 categories vis-a-viz; Property Wildlife distribution Habitant suitability Wildlife management history Legal history Security management Governance business forecasting Background checks were done on; Conducted on the Applicant’s credentials Business credentials Criminal records Commercial records Personal information Past employment Credit history

Green (Wildlife Economy) Outcome of inspections Programme – loans Outcome of inspections 9 applications recommended for a wildlife loan from SANParks. Of the 5 213 head of game (25 species) requested by applicants, SANParks allocated 941 animals (8 species). SANParks allocated 941 head of game for Window 1 with an estimated total value of R4.2 million.

Species & Number Requested Application Species & Number Requested Species & No Allocated Species allocated Number allocated Estimated value (R) A • Eland (x200) • Kudu (x500) • Blue Wildebeest (x100) • Black Wildebeest (x100) • Giraffe (x20) • Zebra (x80) • Red Lechwe (x100) • Waterbuck (x80) • Impala (x600) • Blesbok (x200) • Nyala (x100) • Mnt Reedbuck 200) • Fallow Deer (x200) • 50 eland • 20 kudu • 80 zebra 5 150 R 736 000.00 B • Buffalo (x20) • Sable Antelope (x40) • Giraffe (x70) • Springbok (x50) • Kudu (x11) • Eland (x15) • Gemsbok (x15) • Lechwe (x16) • Nyala (x22) • Roans (x22) • Waterbuck (x22) • 5 giraffe • 50 springbok • 11 kudu • 15 eland • 15 gemsbok 96 R 420 000.00 C • Buffalo (x30) • Gemsbok (x24) • Springbok (x40) • Eland (x15) • Plain zebra (x10) • Steenbok (x20) • Roan (x30) • Tsessebe (x10) • Sable (x27) • Nyala (x10) • Blesbok (x20) • Impala (x20) • Black wildebeest (x15) • Kudu (x10) • 10 plains zebra • 50 springbok • 24 gemsbok • 35 red hartebeest 4 119 R 492 800.00 D • Kudu (x15) • Eland (x15) • Blue Wildebeest (x15) • Springbok (x45) • 15 kudu • 15 blue wildebeest 2 30 R 100 500.00 • buffalo (x25) • blue wildebeest (x10) • bontebok (x30) • Burchell zebra (x10) • gemsbok (x30) • eland (x10) • springbok (x50) • 10 blue wildebeest • 10 Burchells Zebra • 20 gemsbok • 30 springbok 70 R 263 000.00 F • buffalo (x20) • blue wildebeest (x20) • bontebok (x20) • blesbok (x15) • gemsbok (x15) • eland (x15) • eland (x15) • kudu (x15) • zebra (x15) • 20 blue wildebeest • 15 gemsbok • 15 eland • 15 kudu • 15 zebra 80 R 393 000.00 G • buffalo (x50) • rhino (x4) • kudu (x50) • eland (x50) • blue wildebeest (x100) • waterbuck (x50) • Burchells zebra (x50) • blesbok (x100) • gemsbok (x50) • springbok (x100) • kudu (x20) • eland (x20) • blue wildebeest (x50) • Burchells zebra (x30) • gemsbok (x20) • springbok (x50) 6 190 R 699 000.00 H • blesbok (x53) • zebra (x42) • buffalo (x16) • wildebeest (x32) • eland (x48) • gemsbok (x43) • kudu (x32) • springbok (x32) • redhartebeest (x32) • 30 blue wildebeest • 20 gemsbok • 15 kudu • 20 springbok • 15 red hartebeest 100 R 409 000.00 I • Buffalo (x41) • Redhartebeest (x31) • Bontebok (x30) • Burchell Zebra (x7) • Eland (x31) • Kudu (x22) • Gemsbok (x20) • Red hartebeest (x30) • Burchells Zebra (x6) • eland (x30) • kudu (x20) • gemsbok (x20) 106 R 640 200.00

Green (Wildlife Economy) Programme Instead of the 500 head of game over three years as pledged in 2015….. SANParks delivered on the allocation of 1 433 heads of game with an estimated total value of R8.1 million

New pledge In the next MTEF SANPArks commits to donating 3000 animals through the Wildlife Economy Programme. SANParks will double this if some of the proposals in support of the wildlife economy are considered favourably

Thinking outside the box: a case for new ways of doing business Consider SANParks managed farms for breeding of disease free animals (e.g. buffalos). SANParks can raise sustainable stock of disease free game for establish founder populations for emerging farmers in the wildlife economy A national programme modelled after the DEA Natural Resource Management Programs to create jobs for Youth in Nature Conservation in partnership with DRDLR. Training youth, employ them as inspectors. Train them in nature conservation, tourism and game farm management Move the wildlife disease red line by 50km west of the Kruger National Park so that animals from Kruger can be made available to the Wildlife Economy Programme These programs can contribute to the objectives stated by the President in his SONA, which listed tourism as one of four pillars for economic growth and prioritized addressing youth unemployment.

Potential private sector contribution Number of Game Farms = 400 (1974); 7000 (2007) Neighbour to neighbour mentoring Sharing of infrastructure and marketing support Veterinary wildlife support Game farming industry (Dr Taylor, EWT): Live sales - R4.3 billion (2014) (R2.5 billion = private game sales (excl. multiplier effects)); Hunting - R2.6 billion (2014) (excl. money spent by hunters on lodging, food and fees); Game meat production (2014) - R610 million Du Toit. 2011. Pers comm.

Challenges of the Wildlife Economy Programme SANParks proposed solution Institutional governance structure of local communities. Support communities to form appropriate structures and ensure capacity is developed in the communities to govern themselves Regulatory health restrictions relating to meat distribution. Collaboration with relevant government departments in the regulation of meat processing and distribution. ‘Fronting’ of loan requests for wildlife by individuals. Thorough vetting and verification process. Local government can assist in the vetting process Unrealistic expectations / sense of entitlement by individuals or associations of individuals (e.g. SANParks supply animals perpetually) Government should clarify role of agencies and help manage expectations.

Challenges of the Wildlife Economy Programme SANParks proposed solution Lack of technical and management skills for operating wildlife management entity / farm Training of community members, especially youth (through courses and internships) Lack of requisite infrastructure for keeping and managing wildlife (fences, water points, animal handling equipment) Collaboration with three tiers of government. Proposed models of self sufficient donations/loans Lack of adequate grazing land (farm size, veld type, grazing condition) for the wildlife they often request Collaboration with DRDLR in acquiring adequate land Communities are biaised towards charismatic species (e.g. buffalo) Community education and engagement Widllife disease challenges (TB in buffalo and rhino, distempa in wild dogs) Disease management. Source animals from disease free parks.

Thank You