NQOBIZITHA NDLOVU COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES OF BENEFITS DERIVED FROM CONSERVATION OF RHINO IN THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK (Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images)

BACKGROUND 1215 Poached!!! 1004 Poached !! 668 Poached ! 448 Poached 333 Poached 122 Poached 83 Rhino Poached “...we are willing to spend R3,750 per rhino per year on keeping them alive and they are willing to spend R2,4 million per dead rhino. Who do you think is going to win this one? [Mike t’Sas-Rolfes]" Robertson (2013)5

H AVE WE TRIED EVERYTHING ??? Millions spent on campaigns, research, grants, protection, prevention, litigation, policing, demonstrations, media outreach......etc

POSSIBLE SOLUTION ? Community involvement in Rhino conservation

PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH To document the perceptions of local communities regarding the benefits associated with the conservation of rhino specifically and conservation in general

RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1.Do communities see conservation of rhino as being potentially beneficial ? 1.How do communities see possible benefits derived from conservation? 2.How do they see benefits as being realised in practice?

10 in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with; community leaders CBNRM experts Ordinary villagers Educators Rangers Women Youth leaders Traditional leadership Geographical spread (Kruger National Park) From Phalaborwa gate to Paul Kruger gate predominantly on the western boundaries of the park STUDY AREA

RESEARCH RESULTS WHY DO COMMUNITIES GET INVOLVED IN OR SUPPORT ILLEGAL USE AND TRADE Poverty unemployment Absence of alternatives Poor people and parks relations History of mistrust Inequality in benefit sharing Corruption and exploitation

RESEARCH RESULTS HOW DOES ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE IMPACTS ON COMMUNITIES ? Erosion of cultural and spiritual heritage Creates conflict within communities Generates income – access to a better quality of life Indirect benefits do not necessary lead to real development

RESEARCH RESULTS HOW CAN COMMUNITIES BE ENCOURAGED TO GET INVOLVED IN RHINO CONSERVATION INITIATIVES ? Awareness raising Capacity Building through training Business Linkages between Parks & Local communities Community participation in the conservation and sustainable use of rhino Equitable access and benefit sharing

THANK YOU “ Communities are the first line of defense against poaching “