Between September 2010 and August 2015 the Wildlands Conservation Trust will be the Regional Implementing Team for a US$6.65 million investment by the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund in the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Global Biodiversity Hotspot. In this role Wildlands is responsible for soliciting, designing and awarding grants to civil society organisations and community groups that will protect biodiversity in the Hotspot and strengthen the role of civil society in conservation in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. The appointment of Wildlands as Regional Implementation Team for this investment affirms the growing role of the Trust as one of the leading conservation NGOs in the Southern African region and presents new opportunities for partnerships and relationships between conservation NGOs in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique.
The Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is designed to safeguard the world's threatened biodiversity Hotspots in developing countries. It is a joint initiative of Conservation International (CI), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation, the World Bank and the French Development Agency. CEPF supports projects in biodiversity Hotspots, areas with more than 50 percent of the Earth’s terrestrial species endemic in only 1.4 percent of its land surface. CEPF therefore offers an opportunity to promote the conservation of some of the most important ecosystems in the world.
A fundamental purpose of CEPF is to ensure that civil society is actively participating in conserving biodiversity in the Hotspots, expanding the responsibility for biodiversity beyond the state, but ensuring that their efforts complement existing strategies and frameworks established by local, regional and national governments. As such, the CEPF aims to promote working alliances among community groups, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), government, academic institutions and the private sector, to support government strategies by combining unique capacities in a comprehensive approach to conservation.
CEPF is unique among funding mechanisms in that it focuses on biological areas rather than political boundaries and examines conservation threats on a Hotspot-wide basis. From this perspective, CEPF seeks to identify and support a regional, rather than a national, approach to achieving conservation outcomes and engages a wide range of public and private institutions to address conservation needs through coordinated regional efforts.
About the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot
The Hotspot is roughly the size of New Zealand (274,000 km2) and is located along the east coast of southern Africa, below the Great Escarpment. In terms of species diversity, the region is the second richest floristic region in southern Africa (after the Cape Floristic Region) and, for its size, also in Africa. An estimated 8,100 species occur within the region of which at least 1,900 (23%) species are endemic to the region. In total, there are 615 species of special conservation concern within the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Vulnerable (364), Endangered (162) and Critically Endangered (89). At a habitat level, one type of forest, three types of thicket, six types of bushveld, and five types of grasslands are endemic to the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot.
Economic development coupled with a rapidly growing population is placing significant pressure on biodiversity in the Hotspot and hundreds of species are at risk of extinction as the ecosystems upon which they depend on are transformed or degraded. Paralleling the natural diversity, the cultural and socio-economic diversity of the region is incredibly high. From residents of the urban centers of Maputo, Durban, and Port Elizabeth to commercial farmers and foresters, to traditional pastoral cultures of the Zulu, Xhosa, and Swazi are all dependent on the region’s natural resources for their livelihoods and well-being. For more information visit our website. www.wildlands.co.za or join our facebook page http://onfb.me.jgOMnC
Pretoria – The South African National Parks yesterday received 1 000 DNA kits to ensure effective prosecution of rhino poachers.
According to SanParks, the kits from the faculty of Veterinary Services of the University of Pretoria will go a long way in ensuring management of the rhino population and effective prosecution of rhino horn poachers.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, SANParks CEO, Dr David Mabunda, said throughout the years, DNA evidence has ensured that criminal elements are locked up as the analysis of information collected proved to be the only working weapon that cannot be disputed to halt criminals in their tracks.
“This will certainly go a long way in changing the trend of suspects found in possession of rhino horn only being charged with possession as the horns in their possession will be linked to a carcass lying somewhere in a national park or game reserve,” he said.
According to Mabunda, the kits would also assist rhino managers with the individual rhino in their care.
“The scourge of rhino poaching we are faced with needs sophisticated equipment. Technology is needed to resolve the problems in a national park,” he said, adding that the fight against rhino poaching is everyone’s business.
“If we all stand together, we stand a good chance of winning.”
Mabunda said the kits are expected to help prosecutors to be more tougher on those caught in possession of rhino horns.
According to Mabunda, there are 22 000 rhinos in the country. SANParks has lost 333 rhinos. To date, 122 suspects have been arrested for rhino poaching.
Dr Cindy Harper, Head of Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) at the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria, said the primary aim of the project is to support investigation of poaching incidents through forensic DNA testing.
“The ability to obtain a full DNA profile from rhino horn allows us to match recovered horns to specific poaching incidents,” she said.
The DNA Rhino Sample kits project is supported by a host of esteemed private sector companies such as SAB Miller, BMW, 702 Talk Radio through its LeadSA Campaign and the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science. - BuaNews
MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet, the national fundraising initiative, has launched the EWT MyPlanet Rhino Fund in partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT). With effectively more than one rhino killed illegally per day this year to date, the fund was created to empower concerned South Africans by allowing them to swipe their MyPlanet cards to raise valuable funds in the fight against the poaching of our rhinos. Now anyone can actively support rhino conservation and anti-poaching efforts made by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and their partner organisations.
During World Environment Week (5 June to 10 June), it’s important to note that Black Rhinos are endangered threatened species and if rhino poaching continues at the same rate or increases, they may become extinct in 60 years, joining the nearly 30 000 species that are becoming extinct every year. The rhino is an iconic species and the Black Rhino is one of South Africa’s legendary ‘Big 5’. The EWT MyPlanet Rhino Fund is therefore exclusively committed to rhino conservation and anti-poaching efforts.
In 2010 a total of 333 rhinos were illegally killed in South Africa, including ten critically endangered Black Rhinos, according to national park officials. This figure is the highest experienced in South Africa in many years and nearly triple the 2009 figure where 122 rhinos were killed, signalling a worrying trend in the poaching crisis. Approximately 95% of the world’s rhino population is in South Africa. Poachers have almost won the rhino war in Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa.
The recent killing increase is largely due to heightened demand for rhino horn, which has long been prized as an ingredient in traditional Asian medicine, even though medical research proves that rhino horn has no medicinal properties.
The EWT MyPlanet Rhino Fund is supported by Braam Malherbe, the well-known conservationist and TV personality. “My DOT campaign is so simple. If we all just ‘Do One Thing’ our collective actions will make a radical difference. Get a MyPlanet card and ‘Do One Thing’ – Support rhino conservation”, says Malherbe.
The fund is administered by the EWT and will be used to address the most pressing needs across the country. The EWT will provide feedback on how the funds have been used and allocated, from supporting the provincial and national conservation authorities to training, law enforcement and improving rhino security.
Yolan Friedmann, CEO of the Endangered Wildlife Trust says, “We are delighted to work be working with MyPlanet and Braam Malherbe to enable concerned South Africans to support the conservation of rhinos and the improved protection of our threatened wildlife heritage.”
“The EWT is currently at the forefront of rhino conservation and we feel very confident in their ability to use the funds generated in the most efficient way. We encourage individuals, communities, organisations and governments to work together towards saving our iconic wildlife and environment,” comments Pieter Twine, MySchool General Manager.
“By taking up a MyPlanet card, cardholders will easily be able to contribute to the EWT MyPlanet Rhino Fund simply by swiping their cards every time they go shopping at a participating partner such as Toys R Us, Reggie’s, Woolworths, Waltons, Engen QuickShops and kalahari.net at no cost to themselves,” says Twine.
To help save the rhinos visit www.myschool.co.za, apply for your MyPlanet card and start swiping.
Issued on behalf of MySchool by liquidlingo Communications. For media enquiries contact Eleanor Williams on 021 424 1530 or
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About MySchool MySchool acts as a channel that raises and delivers essential funding to schools, charities and environmental organisations in order to improve education and social development in South Africa. This enables members of the community to participate in the future development of our nation in a sustainable way.
The programme gives parents, community and environmentally-minded individuals a vehicle through which to make a meaningful contribution to participating organisations, in a convenient and transparent manner. It is not a donation service, but a true partnership between charities and business partners.
How MySchool works MySchool facilitates school support on behalf of a range of business partners who have a specific interest in education. The fundraising programme is a partnership between business partners, consumer supporters and schools; all striving to create a better future for learners in South Africa. Approximately 600 000 parents and community-minded individuals have MySchool supporter cards.
Supporters use their MySchool supporter cards whenever they transact with one of the MySchool business partners. A small percentage of their transaction – up to 5 percent – is then allocated to their beneficiary school or charity. All these transactions are recorded and a statement is sent to individual supporters on a monthly basis. The supporter card is not a debit or credit but serves as a measure through which valuable supporter data, such as transactions and funds raised for a particular school, are tracked.
In addition to channelling funds to schools and organisations, the system also promotes developmental initiatives in under resourced schools in conjunction with business partners. These initiatives are aimed at bringing much-needed resources to these schools, and starting partnerships with more affluent schools and business partners. Some initiatives include a twining model whereby resourced school partners with an under-resourced school with the aim of aiding the school’s development, as well as multi-partner projects such as the Toys R Us donation station and stationery collection drives for our Thuso Schools.
MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet Originally the MySchool programme was exclusive to schools and only schools could sign up as beneficiaries. Recently the MyVillage and MyPlanet alternatives were added to our list of organisations that we raise valuable funds for.
MyVillage organizations are charities that care for people. MyPlanet organizations care for animals and the planet.
In order to reach as many South Africans as possible, Sboniso and Paul plan to walk from Musina in Northern Province.
White and Black Rhinoceros have long been persecuted for their horns – especially as these are believed to contain valuable medicinal properties. In South Africa, we have the largest populations of both species left in the World. We largely owe this to pioneer Conservationists like Dr Ian Player, Maqubu Ntombela and countless other dedicated conservationists. From as early as 1895, there were only a few White Rhino left in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, in northern Zululand. Thankfully, through their pioneering Rhino Capture techniques, Dr Player and his team managed to not only increase the number of Rhino in the Park, but also capture and relocate animals to other areas -previously decimated by unscrupulous hunters. The success of this and many subsequent operations, led to the eventual re-establishment of both species in our country.
Should you require more information, make a donation or wish to support this project in some other way, please contact us.
Rhinos constitute one of the highly-regarded “Big 5” of African wildlife tourism, which includes elephants, lions, leopards and the Cape buffalo. Unfortunately, although South Africa is home to approximately 21,000 rhinos, more than any other country in the world, Black rhinos are currently listed as critically endangered – with only about 4,200 remaining in existence.
Since 2007, the number of rhinos killed in South Africa has risen sharply from 13 to 87 in 2008! A year later, figures again rose to an alarming 12 kills. 2010 however, was the worst year in the Country’s history, which saw 333 animals slaughtered for their horns. And unfortunately in 2011, the country is once again heading for catastrophe, with a total of 66 animals having been killed so far. Halting the current wave of poaching is going to prove extremely difficult and if unsuccessful the hard-won population increases achieved by conservation authorities during the 20th century will be completely reversed.
Halting these killers will not prove easy; especially as in their bid to avoid law enforcement, these sophisticated poachers are using ‘high-tech’ gear, including night-vision equipment, veterinary tranquilizers, silencers and helicopters. If not stopped in its tracks, South Africa’s Rhino populations will soon fade to critically low levels, and again be pushed to the point of extinction.
Adding to the vulnerability of the rhino is the ‘heightened’ demand for rhino horn, which has long been prized as an ingredient in traditional Asian medicine. More recently it has also been claimed to possess cancer-curing properties; although there is no evidence to support these claims.
Only a concerted and unified national response by law enforcement agencies, government departments and local communities will provide these magnificent animals with a realistic chance to halt this massacre.
Paul Jennings was born in Zimbabwe and moved to South Africa in 1982, where he matriculated in 1988. He subsequently enrolled at Pretoria Technikon and obtained a National Diploma in Nature Conservation.
Having worked for the Natal Parks Board for a number of years as a student, he spent his early days patrolling the Eastern Shores of the Isimangaliso St Lucia Wetland Park, where he focused predominantly on Black Rhino monitoring, anti-poaching and leading wilderness trails. Later Paul moved across to Ithala Game Reserve, where as a member of the Anti Poaching Unit he spent many hours monitoring Rhino in their natural habitat. From Ithala, Paul transferred to Umkhuze Game Reserve to lead their famous Bushveld trails, before moving back into the anti-poaching field.
Wanting to expand his horizons, he moved to Beachwood Mangroves and the Durban North Conservation zone.
Having spent almost a year a there, a vacancy arose within the world-renowned Game Capture Unit, as the Rhino Capture officer in charge. He jumped at the opportunity and spent the next 7 years travelling around the Province, and the Country, capturing and delivering Rhino and other game species for relocation. During this time, Paul became acutely aware of the plight of some of his charges –in particular how many of these Rhino were being killed for their horns. The methods used are often exceptionally cruel and the animals suffer immense pain before dying of their wounds.
Having witnessed the slaughter first-hand, Paul decided early this year that something had to be done. “The world has to be educated about the plight of the rhino and how important it is for mankind to be a part of conservation efforts to save these beautiful animals,” says Paul.
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Sboniso Phakathi was born in rural Kwazulu- Natal in 1988. In the early years of his life he moved in with his grandmother in Scottsville, where he attended school. In 2006 Sboniso matriculated from Martizburg College, and travelled for two years.
Sboniso Phakathi (Spoon)
He worked on for a private establishment in the Seychelles and later delivered yachts in Europe. Upon his return to South Africa in 2008, he started working for a company in Hoedspruit called Protrack. He worked in their anti-poaching unit, based on Manyeleti reserve and slept in the bush while on 16-day antipoaching patrols. In 2009 he took over Protrack’s public relations endeavours; writing articles and press releases for the company.
In 2010 he enrolled at UNISA to start a BA degree in Political Leadership while continuing his public relations work with Protrack.
In early 2010, after Sboniso and his Protrack colleagues became acutely aware of the sudden and rampant increase in Rhino poaching, they formed the ‘Hoedspruit rhino watch.’ The unit’s main role is to carry out as many presence and visible patrols as it can.
Early in 2011, Sboniso attended his first rhino autopsy on a farm in the area. The heart-wrenching sight made him realize that he wants to reach as many people as possible to make them understand how pointless rhino killings are – and how many Rhinos are still paying the price. He also expressed his wish to actively engage with young people on the issue: “We need to get more youth involved in raising awareness about what’s happening to our common heritage,” he said.
I just wanted to send you this video that I thought you might be interested in seeing.
My friends and I created this for an assignment at the University of Texas at Austin for a nonprofit named Nikela located here in Austin. Their mission is to protect wildlife in South Africa, and educate South African youth about its importance.
Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 14 Mar 2011 Title: Tougher action against rhino poachers needed --------------------
By Sydney Masinga
Mbombela - Mpumalanga MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Norman Mokoena has called for harsher action against rhino poachers.
"I call upon law enforcement agencies to deal very harshly with anyone caught poaching any of our rhinos, or any other endangered species," he said.
He said the Constitution clearly stated that South Africans had a collective responsibility to protect the country's fauna and flora.
"This includes rhino and other endangered species. We have an obligation towards future generations to protect these species at all costs," he said.
Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa released figures last week indicating that, since January, 51 rhinos had been poached across the country. Of these, 33 were poached in the Kruger National Park.
MEC Mokoena thanked members of the National Wildlife Crime Reaction Unit for their fight against poaching.
"Greed and the urge to make a quick buck at the expense of our rhinos will not be tolerated. The law must take its course and these cruel people should receive the harshest sentence ever given in South Africa," concluded Mokoena.
It has been widely reported that powerful crime syndicates are behind the rhino killings, fuelled by demand for horns in Vietnam and China, where horns are ground up and used in traditional medicine - often as aphrodisiacs.
According to South African National Parks (SANParks), in 2010 alone, 333 rhinos were killed in South Africa. In 2009, 122 rhinos were killed in the country, compared to only 13 that were poached in 2007. - BuaNews
Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 09 Mar 2011 Title: Clamp down on cross-border wildlife smuggling --------------------
By Siphiwe Nyathi
White River - More than 100 wild animals and plants were seized during a two-month operation aimed at combating cross-border trade in great apes and other wildlife.
Director of enforcement and facilitation at the World Customs Organization (WCO), Gaozhang Zhu, told journalists at a media briefing in White River, Mpumalanga, that the animals and plants were seized during a trans-regional operation between January and February.
"Being on the frontline at international border crossings enables customs to play a critical role in the fight against transnational organised crime, which is more often than not linked to the smuggling of endangered species," said Zhu.
He said the international community and governments were growing concerned about increasing wildlife crime and associated corruption.
He said the main objective of the operation was to raise awareness, encourage effective enforcement and cooperation among identified international agencies and customs administrations in line with the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora.
The operation was conducted within the framework of Project Great Apes and Integrity (Gapin), a Swedish government-financed project designed to stem illegal trade while cracking down on corrupt practices that helped to fuel illicit trafficking.
WCO secretary general Kunio Mikuriya said Project Gapin resulted in the seizure of more than 22 tonnes and 13 000 pieces of protected wildlife covering over 31 species, including one live monkey, two dead monkeys (Macaques caught as bush meat), 295 pieces of ivory statues, jewellery and chopsticks, 57kg of raw ivory, four rhino horns, 4 726kg of pangolin meat, 323 seahorses and one leopard skin.
"(Improving) export controls on protected wildlife through capacity building and raising the awareness of front line customs officers on the dangers posed by corruption has ensured the success of this important trans-regional operation," said Mikuriya.
He said the WCO and its 177 member customs administrations remained committed to protecting the earth's natural heritage through effective border enforcement.
Fourteen African countries participated in the operation, supported by 25 countries in Asia and Europe, WCO Regional Intelligence Liaison Offices, Asian Wildlife Enforcement Network, Lusaka Agreement Task Force, Pan African Sanctuary Alliance, and national cities management authorities, wildlife enforcement agencies and in some countries, the police.
Mikuriya said detentions were also made in Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda and South Africa, four of the 15 countries that form part of Project Gapin.
The balance of arrests were made in countries outside Africa, such as Belgium, China, Czech Republic, France, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.
"Some of the countries participating in the training session made a number of significant interceptions during the actual operation and moreover, Vietnam Customs seized 1.2 tonnes of ivory shipped from Tanzania via Singapore just prior to the start of the operation," Mikuriya said.
It is estimated that illegal trade in wildlife is, in term of profits, the second largest criminal activity next to narcotics smuggling.
"Almost all great ape populations continue to decline drastically, severely threatened by the combined effects of hunting and illegal export to third countries. The population of chimpanzees across Western Africa has decreased by 75 percent in the past 30 years," Mikuriya said. - BuaNews
Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 10 Mar 2011 Title: Kruger bans liquor from public areas --------------------
By Siphiwe Nyathi
Skukuza - The Kruger National Park will ban visitors from using any alcohol in public areas as of next week.
Park spokesperson William Mabasa said day visitors especially would no longer be allowed to bring or consume alcohol in parking lots, at picnic sites, wildlife viewing areas or on roads and at entrance gates.
"We decided to introduce this policy in order to eliminate the growing unacceptable behaviour by visitors who misbehave in the park when they are intoxicated. We are just ensuring that the Liquor Act is enforced in the park," said Mabasa.
Mabasa said that during the 2010 festive season there were complaints about drunk visitors who were speeding, knocking down animals on the road, littering, playing loud music and disturbing wildlife at animal sightings.
He added that some day visitors swam nude in the parks' pools, used overnight facilities without permission from occupants and drank way too much alcohol in public.
"The restrictions will not apply to overnight visitors who will be allowed to bring in own alcohol for consumption in the privacy of their booked accommodation and the restaurants. But, like day visitors, overnight visitors will be bound by the same rules of not drinking in public," said Mabasa.
Mabasa said security personnel would be deployed at all the gates to search people for liquor and confiscate liquor from day visitors.
Meanwhile, he said park and ride facilities would be provided at all gates during busy periods like the upcoming Human Rights weekend from March 19 to 29.
"This service will provide alternative access to day visitors who still wish to enter the park once the gate day visitor quotas have been reached. An additional fee will be charged for the use of the park and ride facilities," Mabasa said.
He said day visitors would be required to make bookings over the phone through central reservations or through the website.
Wild Card holders and guests from neighbouring tourism establishments have been advised to book for their day tours in advance. - BuaNews
“WE DO NOT INHERIT THE EARTH FROM OUR ANCESTORS,
Paul Jennings was born in Zimbabwe and moved to South Africa in 1982, where he matriculated in 1988. He subsequently enrolled at Pretoria Technikon and obtained a National Diploma in Nature Conservation.
Sboniso Phakathi was born in rural Kwazulu- Natal in 1988. In the early years of his life he moved in with his grandmother in Scottsville, where he attended school. In 2006 Sboniso matriculated from Martizburg College, and travelled for two years.
