Month: June 2018

To conserve the world’s oceans, we must go beyond science, and use it to inform policy and management, and ultimately to catalyse change. The Society for Conservation Biology’s International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC) brings together conservation professionals and students to develop new and powerful tools to further marine conservation science and policy. With over 700 marine conservation professionals and students in attendance, IMCC is one of the most important international events for anyone involved in marine conservation.

Dr Jean Harris of WILDOCEANS (a programme of the WILDTRUST) and #OnlyThisMuch is attending the 5th IMCC in Kuching, Sarawak this week (24-29 June).

WILDOCEANS is a marine and coastal conservation programme and was developed in response to the need to ensure ocean health and sustainability for all. #OnlyThisMuch is a campaign in collaboration with key marine conservation stakeholders and NGO’s to advance the protection of South Africa’s oceans. Currently only 0.4% of South Africa’s waters are protected in Marine Protected Areas. This is despite South Africa being a signatory of the Convention for Biological Diversity which commits countries to achieving 10% by 2020, in order to promote ocean health and human well-being.

Harris will also be presenting on the process of identifying MPAs’ for conservation priority and, along with another PEW Fellow* Ellen Pikitch, will co-convene a workshop organized by the Pew Fellows Program on the value and effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas.

Attended by leading scientists such as Dr Jane Lubchenco, this conference will bring together marine conservationists from many walks of life including but not limited to marine scientists, managers, teachers, policy makers, and journalists.

When Harris was asked what the IMCC experience has been like thus far she said: “The need to increase protection of the oceans has been a key theme – scientific evidence indicates that at least 30% protection of ocean space is needed if the benefits that MPAs bring are to be gained – such as improved fisheries, protection of natural heritage, climate impact reduction and better livelihoods and more jobs for coastal communities.”

In the words of Prof Callum Roberts from the University of York and author of the Unnatural History of the Sea “The United Nations 10% protection target is not nearly enough to safeguard vulnerable and endangered species, boost resilience to climate change and keep nature’s engines running. It is a waypoint, not the endpoint for ocean protection.”

WILDLANDS recently had the privilege of hosting Empowers Africa on a conservation management learning journey at Somkhanda Community Game Reserve. Empowers Africa has given the reserve loyal support over the years through the lion introduction that took place last year, enabling the expansion of lion range into an area that hasn’t seen lion for over 100 years.

Empowers Africa, a U.S based organisation known for supporting programmes around human empowerment, wildlife protection and land conservation, were one of the first organisations to raise their hands in support of Somkhanda.

During the visit that took place this past weekend, they supported conservation activities including the fitting of new satellite tracking collars to the dominant elephant bulls, the loosening of the lion tracking collars and the dehorning of both black and white rhino, to protect and conserve our wildlife.

The Empowers group included their trustees and donors as well as a group of youth representatives, and for some this was their first visit to South Africa. “South Africa is a wonderful country and we believe is a leader in the conservation field. It was a privilege for us to be able to share our love for the country and the incredible conservation work being done with a new group of donors, including a youth delegation that were all inspired by the experience. We are committed to supporting the incredible vision and efforts of the Gumbi community, as they continue to develop Somkhanda into a world class conservation success and destination,” added Krista Krieger, Empowers Africa Executive Director and Chairperson.

“The weekend on Somkhanda was a resounding success as we were able to fit tracking collars onto two black rhino, one white rhino, two elephant bulls and three lions, as well as trim the rhinos’ horns. To achieve these impressive results in two short days requires cooperation and coordination between multiple conservation organizations, donors and experts, and the ongoing partnership between WILDLANDS, Empowers Africa, Somkhanda and Wildlife ACT is a great example of how strong partnerships can achieve outcomes that enable the protection of a host of critically important species,” Thandiwe Knutson, Zululand Operations Manager.

“Somkhanda is a community game reserve that relies heavily on the support of the conservation community to enable the management and protection of their rhino, lion and elephant. Without the support of organisations such as Empowers Africa and not forgetting our partners in conservation, Wildlife ACT, the reserve would not be a home of the big 5. Through their support the community would also not be able to secure meaningful eco-tourism partnerships. Their support is invaluable and will leave a lasting conservation legacy,” concluded Dr Andrew Venter, WILDTRUST CEO.

A celebratory World Oceans Day event, hosted by WILDOCEANS and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), was held at uShaka Marine Worlds’ Aquarium on the evening of the 8^th of June. The event, which featured a key note address from the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) Deputy Director General Judy Beaumont – celebrating South Africa’s oceans and their importance for our prosperity, was used as a platform to announce an exciting coalition hoping to advance the protection of our oceans.

“Funded by Oceans 5 in partnership with Ocean Unite, WWF-SA, The Green Connection, Centre for Environmental Rights and the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR), this coalition hope to gain strategic wins for marine conservation in African waters that will catalyse action across the region,” said Dr Jean Harris of WILDOCEANS. “We hope to build support amongst public and ocean stakeholders for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by creating awareness of their value for provision of ecosystem services, ocean risk mitigation, food security, ecotourism benefits, moderation of climate change, and improving resilience to impacts of other global stressors.”

“DEA welcome the support afforded by this coalition,” said DEA DDG Judy Beaumont. “We appreciate any work being done that profiles the many social, economic and environmental benefits of a dynamic and relevant MPA network. This communication is key to bridging the gaps between government departments, as well as civil society and conservation entities. The drive to achieve a 10% (and more) MPA target aligns with South Africa’s National Development Plan outcomes and international commitments. We are all connected to the ocean in some way and therefore all have a responsibility to protect and preserve our oceans for future generations.”

An exciting advocacy and awareness social media campaign called “Only This Much” is also aligned with the coalition. “We hope to mobilise a regional movement for increased protection across all African national waters and Africa’s Southern Ocean territories, aimed at meeting the current MPA target of 5% before the end of 2018 and 10% by 2020, but paving the way to African states supporting a global target of 30% strongly protected by 2030,” commented WILDOCEANS’ Lauren van Nijkerk. “Please join the campaign online to help us share updates, photos and news stories across South Africa – and the world!”

Alex Benkenstein of the South African Institute of International Affairs observed: “The inclusion of ocean protection concerns as part of the Sustainable Development Goals underscores the global nature of the challenges and opportunities we face in the maritime domain. For this reason, our Institute seeks to promote cooperative responses towards developing a truly sustainable Blue Economy, and a strong MPA network, both within South Africa and beyond our borders, is an essential component of that.”

“Given the role of healthy oceans in supporting an ocean economy, it’s critical that we address the fact that we’re currently only protecting a tiny fraction of our ocean space. We urgently need to scale up our MPA network to secure the underlying marine ecosystems which underpin economically and ecologically sustainable development,” said John Duncan, Senior Manager of the Marine Programme at WWF SA.

Judy Mann, Conservation Strategist at SAAMBR: “We are pleased to be a part of this unprecedented collaboration between organisations committed to marine conservation. The challenges facing our oceans are enormous and it is only by working together that we will be able to address them, to help people and the ocean.”

Saul Roux, Legal Campaigner at the Centre for Environmental Rights, said: “The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) is a proud partner in this campaign for increased marine protection. Marine protected areas will safeguard our natural heritage and the ecosystems that underpin our growing marine economy. More than two years ago the Minister of Environmental Affairs published notices and regulations, for public comment; for an ecologically representative network of 22 marine protected areas. These should be declared as a matter of urgency. This will ensure South Africa is on track to meet our international obligations and will contribute to the realisation of our Constitutional right to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations.”

“The Green Connection believes that sustainable development can only be truly sustainable if all affected are involved in decisions that affect them,” said Green Connections’ Liz McDaid.  “GC is alarmed at how little of our ocean is protected for future generations and how much appears to have been allocated for extractive industries like oil and gas.  GC is part of this campaign to ensure that our oceans are protected to provide livelihoods for future generations and we support at least 30% MPA goal – and all of South Africa’s affected stakeholders must be involved in such decisions.”

Karen Sack, Managing Director of Ocean Unite, concludes: “We purchase insurance for our homes, our cars, our lives. We even buy death insurance.  Marine Reserves are the insurance policies we need to buy for our Ocean planet. They don’t cost anything but political will while they bring countless benefits to people and nature. They help build resilience to climate change and bring back marine life, securing our food, water, and air supplies.  They provide job security.  Given South Africa’s location at the confluence of two of the world’s great Oceans, the President and Cabinet have an opportunity this World Oceans Day to begin to meet and then exceed South Africa’s international commitments to protect at least 10% of her waters by 2020, underwriting and safeguarding marine life for the benefit of all South Africans.”

Join us ONLINE. www.onlythismuch.co.za

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This week, community members of the AmaZizi and AmaNgwane in the Upper Thukela region of KwaZulu-Natal held their first and successful communal livestock auction hosted by WILDLANDS in partnership with Meat Naturally Pty (MNP) – a social enterprise working to engage and develop the communal livestock sector to encourage sustainable farming practices.

Meat Naturally Pty is a Conservation South Africa initiative that aims to provide development and market solutions which ultimately provide communal stock farmers with improved returns as a reward for the implementation of improved grazing and land management efforts. According to Conservation South Africa, livestock farming for meat production is said to be the largest agricultural sector in South Africa, generating over R6.7 billion per annum, with commercial farmers supplying 95% of the red meat market in the country. Farmers on communal lands own 47% of the country’s livestock, but only 5% of the formal market comes from these smaller farming operations.

Over 100 community members gathered for the much anticipated auction and it was truly a rewarding day as over R600 000 was generated through this auction. More than 70% of the cattle were auctioned successfully, with the highest selling for R11 500. This was an astounding result as these funds will be going directly to the farmers, in turn having a direct impact on the livelihoods of the Mweni community.

WILDLANDS Executive Director, Dr Roelie Kloppers comments, “The project incentivizes communities to change traditional cattle farming systems to improve biodiversity in productive landscapes. Through a partnership with Meat Naturally, we can provide communities in the Mweni area of the Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg area with mobile cattle auctions that save them from incurring transport costs and high fees associated with traditional auctions. In exchange, local livestock associations have agreed to implement a rotational grazing system, allowing for grassland restoration and improved ecosystem health.”

Since this was a first time experience for this community, many are hoping to gain much more in future. “I only brought one of my bulls here today as I needed to gauge the type of price I would get. We would like to see a higher rand value per kilogram but I am satisfied with what I got today,” commented Mr Hlongwane.

Environmental Monitor, Daniel Hlongwane, commended the efforts of bringing the auction to the community as he felt that it opened the field to the local women farmers of the community who previously could not attend and instead sent their male relatives or children. The role of the Environmental Monitors has been pivotal in forging this project as they provide environmental guidance to the farmers by advising them on vital animal husbandry practices, veterinary and basic care.

“For the first time, I feel the auction went well and definitely had a positive impact on local farmers. They were very happy with the commission of 4% which they must pay compared to some of the auctions they are used to, which is around 8% or above and it is charged per cow. Although some of the local farmers did not sell as they felt that the prices were lower than what they were hoping for, but I’m certain that  with improved land practices, the implementation of rotational grazing and community participation, the farmers will get more satisfactory  prices for their cattle,” concluded Senzo Dunywa, WILDLANDS Lead Biodiversity Stewardship Facilitator.

WILDLANDS ultimately want to realise the vision of a ‘Sustainable future for all” through such projects. Through enabling communities to conserve and protect their natural heritage by teaching them sustainable land use practices, we are certain that not only will these communities generate sustainable livelihoods but they will become resilient and robust. It is thanks to long term partners and funding support from the Global Nature Fund that such projects will improve the lives of the marginalised communities in remote areas like Mweni.

Global Nature Fund Board member, Dr Andrew Venter, was really excited about the progress being made with this ground-breaking project. “Rural sustainability is key to the future conservation of Africa’s biodiversity and landscapes. This project demonstrates that it is possible to combine cattle farming, grassland conservation and livelihood development. A unique combination that has the potential to unlock rural landscape conservation efforts across Africa.”