The eThekwini Community Foundation (eCF) is adding its voice to the global battle cry to preserve South Africa’s natural heritage and to this end has formally joined Project Rhino KZN, and has secured a second community craft commission rhino (the first being Yenza) which will be sponsored by the U.S. Consulate in Durban and The Wildlands Conservation Trust.
The eCF is a proactive, not-for-profit public benefit organisation, strategically aligned to the eThekwini Municipality. “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. Traditional crafters typically harvest elements of natural heritage, for example wood, quills, grasses, illala palms and reeds. The reports of international syndicates who consider our resources to be fair game to be plundered, is alarming,” comments Kure.
“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. One of our great success stories this year was the commissioning and decorating of Yenza, a nearly life-size resin rhino, by a collective of crafters. Yenza has been much in demand and has played an instrumental role to create awareness around rhino poaching and conservation. We are delighted that a second rhino has been commissioned to be decorated,” said Kure.
When asked how they felt about their partnership with eCF and Wildlands, the US Consulate representative in Durban, Taylor Ruggles said, “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.”
The eThekwini Community Foundation has also been accepted as an associate member of Project Rhino KZN (www.projectrhinokzn.org) an association of like-minded organisations allowing collective co-ordination of rhino conservation interventions. “We are excited about the many partnerships that are being formed for the sake of conserving our rhino and we sincerely hope that the increase in organisations working together will mean a decrease in the poaching statistics,” concluded Wildlands’ Kevin McCann.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)