Month: March 2013

Wildlands help make the Bonitas Mkomazi Adventure Challenge possible

On the 10th of March 2013 seven Treverton G.A.P (Growth, Adventure and Preparation) students set out with their post matric Director, Mr Athol Davies and Outdoor Education Assistant, My Brad Neal on a 7 day “catchment to coast” challenge that would see them taking part in an exciting adventure, the Bonitas Mkomazi Adventure, as well as an outreach programme, that positively affected the communities they met and the schools they interacted with along the way.

The purpose of this expedition was to raise awareness around the importance of managing the limited natural resource – water. The students visited some of the local under- resourced schools, engaging with them about the importance of environmental issues, particularly those that affect the quality of the water resource and the health of the community members.

The group visited six schools, namely: Skietsdrift Primary, ML Sultan Primary, Linwood Combined School, Majwabu Primary, Celwani Primary and Mazwendola High School. At each school the students conducted an interactive education programme engaging in a practical way with the learners. The learners were also guided through the various stages of the water cycle and took part in educational games.

“At the beginning of every lesson the school children would be very timid, but by the end of it they would be singing and dancing to the ‘evaporation – condensation – precipitation’ chant,” commented G.A.P student Tyron Arnell.

The young adults that participated in this adventure were Mpumi Dlomo; Jacoba Veenstra; Stephanie Cockcroft; Oliver Momberg; Jonty Schwartz; Tyron Arnell and Dylan Van Wyk.

Travelling by non-motorised means of transport the group of G.A.P students hiked 20km to the catchment of the Mkomazi River, cycled 200km along the river’s course and paddled close to 100km on inflatable crocs and K2 boats.

“My favourite part of the experience was paddling down white water rapids in blow up boats called ‘crocs’,” commented Stephanie Cockcroft. “No matter how big the rapid, be it small white water or class 5 rapids, we swallowed our fear and took on the challenge.”

This fantastic expedition almost did not happen with some of the expected sponsors having to pull out at the last minute. Budget for the teacher training workshop was non-existent a few days before the expedition started, but Wildlands stepped in and saved the day with a CEPF (Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund) grant for R120 000 for teacher training workshops, also ensuring continuous engagement with the rural schools.

“If we had to shelf the teacher training workshop we would minimize the longevity of our impact and sharing knowledge with school learners around the importance of water,” said Athol Davies from Treverton. “Training teachers means the reach of our message exponentially increases over the different children and the classes he/she teaches over the years.”

Furthermore Wildlands have donated a R 50 000 grant from BONITAS Medical Fund – earmarked for a bursary for a black female scholar in the 2014 G.A.P programme.

The expedition was filmed and a documentary profiling the Bonitas Mkomazi Adventure will be aired on Supersport later this year – keep an eye on the Wildlands social media pages for more information. For any queries on the Treverton G.A.P programme email adavies@treverton.co.za.

“We have a beautiful country,” said adventure participant Tyron Arnell, “it is great to know that we did our best in trying to ensure it stays that way.”

Seeing the Light

Towards the end of last year the Botswana government announced that trophy hunting will no longer be allowed on any state or community land from the end of 2013. The ban extends to what is known as ‘citizen hunting’ for the pot and covers all species, including elephants.

And then in early January this year the government of Zambia annulled the tender process for hunting concessions in 19 Game Management Areas (GMAs) and cancelled all hunting licences and quotas for at least one year. It also introduced an immediate and indefinite ban on the hunting of lions and leopards and committed to a thorough review of the hunting industry.

These are extremely sensible stands and both governments should be congratulated for their vision. Although taken independently, the decisions are based on similar factors that clearly indicate a further loss of support for trophy hunting as an effective wildlife management option.

On the economic front, the contribution of hunting has always been overplayed. In most countries the industry has only a six-month season and the benefits delivered to local economies by the small camps, with their limited complements of staff and clients, are insubstantial.

The real money goes into the pockets of the operators and is often collected outside the home states.

In the case of Botswana, the photographic sector has steadily replaced hunting over the past two decades. In the process, the ecotourism industry as a whole has grown significantly and its comparative advantages have become increasingly evident. The government now has records relating to concession fees, employment numbers and opportunities, wages and taxes paid, contributions to conservation and a host of other criteria that enable them to make direct comparisons between the two industries.

In Zambia, where approximately US$3-million is earned annually from trophy hunting, Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo said it loud and clear: ‘Why should we lose our animals for US$3-million a year? The benefits we get from [photographic] tourist visits are much higher.’ And as reported in a number of stakeholder meetings held after the bans were announced, remuneration to local people from hunting is simply not materialising; communities located within or on the borders of GMAs are as impoverished as ever.

The ban on hunting makes just as much sense when it comes to ecological considerations.

The primary claim in this regard is the industry’s much-touted anti-poaching role, but this is totally misrepresented. Poaching occurs in all protected areas and the intensity of it is driven by factors such as the prevailing socioeconomic conditions and levels of policing.

It is certainly true that the presence of tour operators and their clients acts as a deterrent to poaching, and while hunting concessions claim the same advantage, the protection they offer to wildlife is no better. If anything, it could be argued that whereas the hunting season lasts only six months, most photographic operators are in business year round, which translates into a far more significant presence on the ground.

In both Botswana and Zambia, the hunters have occupied concessions around the perimeters of national parks and reserves, and this is where the poaching starts. Further afield, Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve serves as a more obvious example of the connection between hunting and poaching. Almost 95 per cent of its land is parcelled out among more than 40 hunting concessions yet, as reported by conservation agencies and the Tanzanian government, thousands of elephants are being lost to ivory poachers each year.

Another spurious claim put forward by advocates of hunting pertains to the gene pool.

Rather than targeting the old and infirm, as they assert, trophy hunting is actually all about pursuing the prime animals within the gene pool of individual species. That is why record books are kept and why every operator aims to get as many entries in them as possible and thus obtain a marketing edge. The loss of established animals year after year hammers the breeding stock and is extremely disruptive to the social systems and behavioural patterns of the different species.

Given the existing pressures on wildlife in most protected areas, this is why trophy hunting is at odds with conservation. How can any activity that seeks to kill what everyone else is so diligently trying to protect be making a contribution?

When viewed comparatively, there is no contest as to which land-use option for nationally protected areas is superior. The money involved and a powerful lobby will no doubt keep hunting grounds open in some countries for years to come, but Botswana and Zambia, by breaking ranks, at the very least have laid down a marker to the conservation world – the role of trophy hunting as a conservation tool needs to be thoroughly reviewed.

A challenge that’s looking out for Karkloof

Between the 22nd – 24th of February 220 energetic trail runners took part in a unique challenge in and around the Karkloof Nature Reserve, known as the Bonitas Sunday Tribune Three Cranes Challenge. The 3 day challenge is not for the faint hearted with a tough, well planned 104km trail mapped out by the Wild Series team, and the fact that only 178 of the participants completed all 3 days is testimony to this.

The event was won by Eric Ngubane (with an impressive lead) and Kerry Koen respectively in the men and women categories in overall times of 8 hours 47 minutes for Eric and 11 hours 1 minute for Kerry.

Throughout the event, runners were praising the professional manner in which the event was run, and the amazing routes selected for them to traverse, despite some frustration from participants on the last day of the challenge when they had to find their way through heavy mist along the route. But once the mist cleared the breath-taking views were revealed and it was well worth the wait. Some participants even commented on the fact that they spotted some Wattled Crane during the challenge.

The Three Cranes Challenge upholds the philosophy of the Wild Series events by raising much needed funds for conservation work in the area. “Funds raised through the Three Cranes Challenge go towards supporting the work of the Karkloof Conservancy, including the engagements with many of the landowners to encourage them to secure their land through participation in the Biodiversity Stewardship programme,” comments Kevin McCann, Stewardship Strategic Manager at Wildlands. “In addition, it also supports the management activities of the Karkloof Nature Reverse, through which the participants run. The improved management of the Karkloof Nature Reserve will also continue to support the critically important Wattled Crane breeding population on the reserve.”

“We do not have final figures as yet but it looks like we have raised over R150 000 for conservation in the Karkloof area through the Three Cranes Challenge this year,” says Heidi Carter-Brown, who runs the Wild Series events for the Wildlands Conservation Trust.

“We could not run events such as these if it wasn’t for our sponsors’ contributions, namely Bonitas Medical Fund, Sunday Tribune, Powerade and the ever accommodating Karkloof Conservancy,” comments Heidi. “The next challenge is the Bonitas Sunday Tribune Giants Castle Mountain Bike Challenge. This is an epic 75km one day mountain bike challenge which takes place at Giants Castle in the Central Drakensberg Mountains,” concludes Heidi.

If you would like more information regarding the Wildlands Wild Series events please emailheidim@localhost/import-data-post or visit www.localhost/import-data-post and click on the Wild Series tab.

Welcome beautiful Nkanyezi!

Nkanyezi, (“Shining Star”) the second in the series of commissioned decorated public art rhinos, a project of the eThekwini Community Foundation (ECF), was revealed to the public yesterday at the King Shaka International Airport (KSIA).

Based on the success of Yenza a nearly life-size resin rhino, decorated by a collective of crafters in 2012, Nkanyezi has been commissioned by the eThekwini Community Foundation (ECF). The foundation is a proactive, not-for-profit public benefit organisation, strategically aligned to the eThekwini Municipality. Nkanyenzi is inspired by the diminutive mythical national treasure golden rhino, Mapungubwe.

Nkanyenzi was sponsored by the U.S. Consulate in Durban in partnership with the Wildlands Conservation Trust. For the next three months, she can be seen at the King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) which hosted the Wildlands Rhino Parade in the last quarter of last year.

Yenza and Nkanyenzi are part of the Rhino Parade – an innovative campaign pioneered by the Wildlands Conservation Trust based on the internationally renowned Cow Parade concept. It is aimed at profiling the plight of South Africa’s Rhino whilst raising funds to support Wildlands’ rhino conservation efforts. The Wildlands Conservation Trust is an active, strategic partner of the ECF.

“The preservation of much of our natural heritage is in crisis – personified by the ongoing rhino poaching tragedy,” says ECF director Kathryn Kure. “The rhino has become iconic and represents one diminishing species among many. As a Trust whose broad mission is interfacing people – projects – planet, we are aware of the need for a healthy symbiotic relationship between the country’s craft community and our natural heritage. For the crafters to continue to work there must be systems in place for the sustainability and careful monitoring of our flora and fauna.”

“The reports of international syndicates who consider our resources to be fair game to be plundered, is alarming. A key element in this fragile house-of-cards is the preservation of the rhino. The Foundation is doing everything in its power to support the rhino campaign,” said Kure.

“The United States is working with the international community to combat the illegal trade in wildlife and promote conservation through a four pillar strategy, which includes diplomatic outreach, public diplomacy, training and partnerships. The United States’ efforts with foreign governments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector seek to reduce demand and strengthen wildlife and marine conservation, as well as related enforcement and institutional capabilities,” said U.S. Consul General in Durban, Taylor Ruggles.

“As ACSA we are proud to adopt Nkanyezi at King Shaka International Airport for a few months and we are certain that her presence at the airport, which is a gateway, will further highlight the plight of the rhino and showcase the craft expertise of our region”, said Colin Naidoo Communications and Brand Manager for KSIA.

The first rhino, Yenza, can be seen in the foyer of the municipal library in the Durban City Hall. She was designed and made by a collective of craft organisations last year. Craft NGOs worked jointly on the second rhino, Nkanyezi, but this time, some of the crafters have gained sufficient experience by working on Yenza, to now be able to do  the design, create  the templates and be part of the project management themselves.

“iNkanyezi is the perfect vehicle to  build capacity and to allow the crafters to see the big picture and in so doing, build up  their repertoire of skills and entrepreneurial experience,” says Robin Opperman who headed the project management team.

“We like to work with like-minded art-makers and crafters. It makes a bigger impact when you work on bigger items together,” said Debbie Heustice Director of info4africa who works with Ubunye Crafters.

“Therefore, our rhino, who we hope is pregnant with more such projects and possibilities, is called Nkanyezi or “Shining Star”. For we cannot fight this scourge without partnerships at an international level and her two flanks reference the colours of the South African and US flags, as testament to the partnership between nations that is required,” concludes Kure.

YES and Wildlands create 600 opportunities for the youth

According to the South African National Treasury, 7.5 million people in this country are currently unemployed and of those 73% are younger than 35. Furthermore, 42% of young people under the age of 30 are unemployed compared with less than 17 per cent of adults over 30. Employment of 18 to 24 year olds has fallen by more than 20% (320 000) since December 2008. Unemployed young people tend to be less skilled and inexperienced – almost 86% do not have formal further or tertiary education, while two-thirds have never worked.

In response to this the South African Department of Environmental Affairs issued a call to Non Profit Organizations and Training Institutes to participate as Implementing Agencies in the Youth Environmental Services (YES) programme. The aim of the programme is to:

a)      Expose youth to the green economy as an alternative destination for employment (changing aspirations)

b)      Build capacity through training (human development)

c)       Enable future employment through education (building a Curriculum Vitae – CV)

d)      Provide experiential learning in the workplace (promoting employability) and,

e)      Create eco-entrepreneurs (promoting self-employment).

The Wildlands Conservation Trust responded to the call with a proposal to enable youth participation in the Green Economy in the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape Provinces. The proposal was successful and Wildlands was appointed as Implementing Agency for the YES program in those two provinces (9 projects in total – one per province). Recruitment of project beneficiaries started in December 2012 and by January 2013, 200 young individuals joined the Trust to receive accredited training in Natural Resource Management, and to provide community services in the Umgungundlovu and eThekwini Municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and in the Port St John’s, Mbothyi and Cata areas in the Eastern Cape.

In the second year of the 3-year project, the scope will expand to the Umkhanyakude and Zululand Districts in KwaZulu-Natal and as far south as the Plains of the Camdeboo and Graaf-Reinet in the Eastern Cape. On completion 600 young persons (200 per year) would have gone through the accredited training course and workplace skills learning and the Trust hopes to provide exit opportunities in the form of further leaning, direct employment or self-employment to at least 75% of those who participate in the program.

“Research shows that the green economy is one of the key sectors for growth that can provide employment in South Africa. If we are going to address the social and environmental problems of the country it’s imperative that we enable the participation of young people in the current system, else they will feel isolated and uninterested in participating in the development of the country. The YES program offers an opportunity to engage with young people and to capacitate them to be part of the growing green economy that is transforming South Africa into a more just society,” commented Roelie Kloppers, Director at the Wildlands Conservation Trust.