A WILD START TO 2019! EXPOSING - SOUTH AFRICA'S PREDATOR PARK SCAMS - ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST
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A WILD START TO 2019! Issue 12: The Connected Edition
March - April 2019
EXPOSING
SOUTH AFRICA’S PREDATOR
PARK SCAMS
TACKLING
ILLEGAL WILDLIFE
TRADE
ENDANGERED
WILDLIFE TRUST
Protecting forever, together.
I Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition
WHAT’S A WORD FROM
to its critically important (and often completely absent) habitat
and its role in a natural ecosystem; and where it is often seen as a
source of amusement. Picture the scene of children laughing at the
THE CEO
antics of a troop of captive monkeys who are in fact, demonstrating
INSIDE
abnormal behaviour due to stress, fear or frustration.
4. These facilities often detract from the needs, and importance
of ‘real’ conservation in which wild and free populations living in
natural habitats are what really saves species. Captive facilities
create a “Noah’s Ark” ideology that suggests that samples of wild
animals can be put ‘safely’ into enclosures and this way, we have
Much has been said recently about zoos, and the role rescued and saved them from extinction. Their very role in the wild,
that they play in society. Social media and a heightened and our very dependence on nature as something we cannot control
A word from the CEO 2 or manipulate is lost of the audience who very quickly moves into
public awareness around the welfare needs of wild asking what is for lunch and negotiating traffic to get home.
Noticeboard
animals have brought to the fore the issue of the lone 5. Many of these facilities are also guises for captive breeding and
trade; on occasion removing animals from the wild under the
• Events 3 elephant Lammie at the Johannesburg Zoo, the welfare pretence of ‘saving them from human wildlife conflict’ or needing
of the animals at the East London and Bloemfontein to ‘rehabilitate’ them. But the truth is they need new genetics or
Features simply new stock. This in turn creates enormous amounts of work
zoos, and the concerns around the wildlife trading that for conservation officials and NGOs who struggle to get these
• Exposing South Africa’s predator park scams 4 animals released or who legitimise the system by issuing permits.
• Partnerships: An innovative approach to 7 occurs behind the scenes of most private zoos in South
A system that is highly susceptible to sloppy controls at best and
impactful conservation Africa. corruption at worst.
• Rocklands: Conservation and management 10 6. The manipulation of a caring public is often taken one step further
The war cry of zoos (private and state-owned) has, for generations, when some of these facilities in fact charge ‘volunteers’ to assist
challenges in adventure-based tourism been their role in environmental education and conservation, with with hand-rearing young animals who have simply been removed
• Tackling illegal wildlife trade 13 the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria having published a from their mothers in order to stimulate more breeding and whose
series of conservation strategies, which aim to enable their member future will never, ever be as a wild or free ranging animal.
Showcasing our supporters: For the love of wildlife 14 organisations to “deliver on their core mission of conservation”. The
Ways to give: Donating is now as easy as snapping your fingers… trouble is that it assumes that all their member institutions, as well The EWT is not against zoos or captive wildlife facilities in principle,
as the thousands of non-member institutions, share this core mission. but has seen the industry change significantly in recent years, with
or your phone! There is nothing that actually requires any zoo or captive wildlife any hint of conservation or genuine education only being seen in a
facility to engage in conservation – or even education. So it is up to few institutions. Granted, not all captive wildlife facilities are equal
Tails from the field the visiting public to draw the distinction between those facilities and some do indeed fulfil an important role along the conservation
• A place of connectedness and biodiversity within a 15 that do engage in conservation or education and those that exist for chain. But in a world where many people only see wild animals as
commercial purposes only. a commercial opportunity, many, MANY do not. So the EWT urges
a city – Table Mountain’s freshwater ecosystems and
the public to be cautious about their potential role in legitimising
the elusive Ghost Frog Zoos have been around for centuries with the oldest surviving zoo institutions who do NOT contribute to conservation by suggesting what
• A wild start to 2019 17 having been established in 1752 in Vienna, Austria as a collection you should look out for and what questions to ask, such as:
• The exchange of a lifetime: Loxton to Kamiesberg 19 of animals or an “imperial menagerie”. Despite the London Zoo
• Medike Nature Reserve – one year on 20 establishing itself as “the first zoo in the world founded for the scientific • What credible, meaningful education programmes are in place at
purpose of studying wildlife” as far back as 1828, the majority of zoos these facilities that serve to benefit the conservation of animals in
globally have been and remain, repositories of wildlife ‘specimens’ the wild, along with their all-important habitats and ecosystems?
Green heroes for display, entertainment and commercial value. Environmental • Is the conservation plan of the facility publicly available and does it
• Giving back 23 education on the other hand, has its roots in the 1970s in the western share its conservation activities with its visitors?
• Making a positive difference 24 world, and in South Africa, was only formally recognised after 1994. So • How do the species on display in these facilities contribute
at what stage, globally or locally, did the role of zoological institutions meaningfully to the conservation of their compatriots in the wild?
morph into a meaningful tool to empower visitors to address the plight • Are the interests of these display animals put first or are they being
Walking the talk of endangered species and declining environmental health? And did exploited?
• Energy saving tips 25 the large numbers of privately owned predator, snake and wildlife • Is the facility accountable for where the animals come from; where
parks that exist today, all get established to educate people about their progeny go to; and to the visiting public as to the application
Science snippets conservation in a meaningful and effective manner? Education is a of best practice (welfare, enrichment, husbandry and so on) for all
tricky business and the world is full of experts who work tirelessly their ‘exhibits’?
• Pilanesberg National Park: Bringing the Cheetah 26 on improving the link between imparting information and developing • Do I, as a visitor, get the full value of a conservation education
back from local extinction minds; creating strategies to change behaviour and developing ‘lesson’ or am I paying purely for entertainment for myself or my
• Mitigating the impact of large mammals on wooden 27 effective curricula that improve human conduct. All too often, captive children with no meaningful impact for the benefit of the species on
electrical distribution poles in the Kruger National wildlife facilities rely on the ‘education’ rhetoric when in fact, all they display?
actually do is charge people to see a wild animal in an enclosure, and
National Park by showing people what the animal looks like, and perhaps displaying The list of questions is potentially much longer, but if the visiting
a board with facts about its breeding biology, they justify their role as public simply asked these questions and applied their minds to the
Showcasing our supporters: Wearing your support on your 28 being ‘educators’. If this was to actually have any conservation benefit, answers, we may see the weeding out of those facilities, which frankly
sleeve! would species like rhino, lions, vultures and a host of reptiles and should cease to exist, from those that actually benefit our wildlife. In
amphibians, be in a worse state today than ever in history? the 250 years that have passed since Vienna opened their “tiergarten”,
the world has moved on in many ways, and the confinement of wild
Wildlife fact file animals in situations that compromise their health and wellbeing,
• Serval 29 Where effective and meaningful conservation and / or education has that provide no conservation value whatsoever, and that only exist for
• Blue Duiker 30 happened (yes, there are examples), it has largely come about as a human entertainment and commercial gain should be relegated to the
• Cape Porcupine 30 result of specific institutions redefining their core purpose and moving history books. For the only ‘education’ value of these places lies in
away from the entertainment / commercial proposition from which their display of what human beings should NOT do and how humanity
they may have arisen. But in most cases, I would go so far as to say needs to transform.
Meet the pack that they actually detract from conservation for the following reasons:
• Oscar Mohale 31
• Megan Murison 32 1. They often lull the visiting public into a false sense of Yolan Friedmann
comfort about the plight of the species. When people see large EWT CEO
• Samantha Page-Nicholson 33 YolanF@ewt.org.za
numbers of lions (for example), ‘safe and secure’ behind fences,
they often believe that the species is not threatened with extinction
Ways to give: Every swipe counts! 34 and that these captive populations can simply be bred up and ‘put
back’ into the wild in order to bolster numbers.
Pups’ place 35 2. This fallacy is often perpetuated by the institutions themselves,
which falsely claim that this is the purpose behind their breeding
programmes. Using lions again as an example, no captive bred lion
In closing: Mwitu’s missive 36 has ever been released into the wild and this is not a requirement
of any lion conservation plan anywhere on the globe.
3. People cannot be ‘effectively’ educated about the plight of a species
when their knowledge of it is in an unnatural environment; when it
is mostly behaving abnormally; when there is no connection drawn
1 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 2
24 May 8 June
EXPOSING
EWT Annual Kremetart
Golf Day Cycling Race
SOUTH
The Kremetart Cycling Race is the only
one day, four stage race in South Africa.
The Soutpansberg Mountain Range offers
AFRICA’S
a wonderful backdrop to the race, and is
also home to the EWT’s Medike Nature
22 April: Earth Day Reserve and Soutpansberg Protected Area
22 May: projects, so it made perfect sense that the
PREDATOR
EWT would be added as a beneficiary for
International Day for this year’s event, which takes place on 8
Biological Diversity June 2019.
PARK SCAMS
For more information,
visit http://www.kremetartcycling.co.za/
Entries close on 8 May 2019.
14 May:
Country Club 25-26 May
Johannesburg Talk – & 1-2 June Paul Tully
Book launch Bezhoek Extreme Paul@capturedinafrica.co.za.
Life is like a Kudu Horn This article originally appeared on Africa
– Margret Jacobsohn Geographic https://africageographic.com/
blog/opinion-activist-exposes-south-africas-
Namibian communities have played a lion-park-scams/ and is the opinion of its
leading role in stopping recent rhino author
poaching. How was a disastrous situation
- two years of rhino deaths and no
arrests - turned around in 2015? Margaret
Jacobsohn, author of Life is like a Kudu
Horn, is a specialist in community-based
action who has spent the last 35 years living
and working in remote parts of Namibia. Have you ever wondered why South Africa add up. Right? On the face of it, lion parks look like fantastic
nurseries for unfortunate ‘orphaned’ cubs – offering a caring
At her book launch, she will discuss this seems to have so many captive lion cubs, in home, and eventual return to the wild. Oh, and of course there
and other issues relevant to modern
Africa – and to the planet. She believes the what are known as ‘lion parks’? are endless streams of tourists paying to manhandle the cubs
challenges of community-based natural
resource management work in rural Africa
25-26 May & 1-2 June The reason, in my opinion, is one that we all continuously throughout the day – when lion cubs should be
sleeping, feeding and bonding with their mother and siblings.
differ from the international challenges Bezhoek Extreme need to face up to: IT’S A SCAM. Instead, they are passed around like binoculars on a safari
we face only in scale and specific content game drive.
– whether the problem is crime, plastic The organisers of the Bezhoek Extreme are proud to announce that the 2019 The still-growing lion cub petting industry The numbers
pollution, or fake news. While individuals edition of the race will be in support of the critical conservation work undertaken
can and should make a difference, only masks a sinister legal industry in South According to South Africa’s Department of Environmental
by the EWT. For more information visit https://www.bezhoekextreme.co.za/ Affairs, South Africa has an estimated 8,000 captive lions in
communities – the ordinary public – can Africa. Playing with cute little lion cubs is the approximately 200 breeding facilities. One can add to this an
change the world. Politicians don’t lead
– they follow, she says. Dr Jacobsohn
tip of the iceberg – it’s what you don’t see that unknown number of private (backyard) breeders that operate
has won some of defines this abusive industry. without permits and provide an endless supply of cuddly
the world’s top merchandise to this hungry industry.
environmental When tourists and volunteers visit one of the numerous ‘lion
awards, including Each of these lion parks and breeding facilities may have
parks’ in South Africa and enter the playpens of young orphan
the United Nations between 1-4 breeding females. If we take a conservative
cubs, their instinct is to question the situation. What? Why
Global 500 and
the Goldman
8 June are so many lion cubs being orphaned? And, almost without
average of two lionesses per facility – that’s 200 facilities, 400
lionesses and conservatively 2,400 lion cubs born every year
exception, they are told a lie – that the cubs’ mothers died
Environmental Kremetart or abandoned them. This lie is repeated again and again – in
(assuming two litters per year per lioness and three lion cubs
per litter – an extremely conservative estimate).
Prize for Africa,
jointly awarded Cycling Race marketing material, press releases and hashtags – so much so
that even good, caring people repeat the mantra and become
to her and Garth Lion farmers/breeders speed-breed their lionesses by
party to the lie, and the scam. You see, these lion cubs are
Owen-Smith. removing the cubs soon after birth, thereby inducing the
forcibly removed from their mothers – to feed what has become
lionesses into estrus once more. Wild lions breed only once
a lucrative lion cub petting machine.
per year, at the most. The tiny blind cubs have now become
part of the machine.
We can all do the research. I’ve done it for five years, both as
an animal advocate and consultant in the tourism industry.
Endangered Wildlife Trust: Where and what are all these lion cubs destined for?
Spend 5 minutes on Instagram and see for yourself. There
There is no documented evidence of any captive-bred lion in
are thousands of images of young, motherless lion cubs (plus
South Africa having been released into the wild – despite claims
Physical Address: cheetahs and even tigers) and all of them are being interacted
to the contrary. So remove that solution from the equation.
Building K2, Ardeer Road, Postal Address: [T] +27 11 372 3600 with by tourists and volunteers.
So why are these lion parks claiming that their lion cubs are
Pinelands Office Park, Private Bag X 11, [F] +27 11 608 4682 “orphans”? And what exactly is the journey for that lion cub
How could it be that there are so many big cat mothers out
Modderfontein, 1609 Modderfontein, 1645 [E] ewt@ewt.org.za after its petting shelf life has expired? What is the link between
there suddenly willing to abandon their cubs? This does not
Gauteng, South Africa Gauteng, South Africa www.ewt.org.za
3 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 4
these tiny cubs and the burgeoning canned lion hunting Here are some of the replies. The level of deceit is obvious.
industry?
TIMELINE AND ROLEPLAYERS:
FROM PETTED TO HUNTED
• REMOVAL OF CUBS: This usually happens after only a few
hours or days after birth, when the newborn lion cubs are forcibly
removed by breeders from their mothers and sold or loaned to
lion parks for exhibition and petting purposes. Volunteers have
often described to me the days when newborn cubs arrive by
the box-load. Again the reply to obvious questions is that the
mothers died or rejected and abandoned their babies.
• PETTING: Each tiny cub, initially still with closed eyes, is
petted by thousands of tourists keen to experience a close
encounter with a cute and cuddly big cat cub. The cubs are
handed from person to person and forced to pose for the all-
important selfies. bushveld trees, for that African feel. The lion, fresh from
captivity, is released into this enclosed area – and shot. Legally
• WALKING: Once the cubs reach the age of about six months the hunt organiser needs only release the lion into this area for
they become too big (and dangerous) to cuddle, and graduate 36 hours for it to be classed as “fair chase”.
to being walked with tourists, while a handler protects the
tourists from being harmed by the adolescent and sometimes • LION BONE TRADE: The final stage for the (now dead) lion
boisterous lions. is the selling of its bones to the insatiable Asian market for
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), for approximately $1000-
$1500 per skeleton.
90% of lion park visitors WHY LION PARKS IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE SCAMS
polled were told the lie that To avoid the usual slew of accusations and legal threats from
this industry, let me be clear on one point: the lion park facilities
the park’s lion cubs are offering tourists the opportunity to play with lion cubs are not
the same entities offering canned hunting experiences. I will
orphaned or abandoned by leave it to you to come to your own conclusions in this regard.
their mothers. Recently I conducted a small research task on social media to
highlight this issue.
/
Considering that Instagram is the go-to place for lion-petting
• VOLUNTEER EMPLOYMENT: Local and international selfies, I based my research on this platform, with the following
volunteers are tempted to South Africa, with the tantalising
prospect of caring for these newly “orphaned” baby lion
results:
Using popular hashtags and an appropriate time period to It is up to all of us
to stamp out the
cubs. These naive volunteers pay for such work experience prevent double-counting of cubs, I asked my population of 100
at lion parks, believing the lie that their work is important respondents: “Did the park inform you about where these lion
conservation work – to ‘save’ orphaned cubs and help with ‘lion
research’ and/or to ‘return the lions to the wild’
cubs (that you are interacting with) came from?”
wrongs that we see.
• TOURISM: Local and international tourists, in their thousands,
pay around R100-R200 ($10-$20) for the opportunity to play
with baby lion cubs and to walk with adolescent lions, usually
at the same facility. These tourists are fed the same lies.
At this stage, the lion parks wash their hands of Of those answers gained from my questioning 90% were • Result in a decline in the non-conservation related breeding
their ‘orphaned’ lions. similar to those above. The other 10% stated that they either of big cats (namely lions, tigers, cheetahs, leopards and
could not remember, were not told by the facility or that they mixed breeds);
• HUNTING: After two years of tourist petting and walking, the didn’t ask about the whereabouts of the cubs’ mothers.
lion progresses to the second-last stage of its usefulness. The • Create better monitoring capability of both the legal and
tourism industry now has no further need for this lion, and it To be clear on this matter: 90% of lion park visitors polled were illegal wildlife trade in South Africa;
is traded into the hunting industry, where it is shot by trophy told the lie that the park’s lion cubs are orphaned or abandoned
hunters in what is known as ‘canned hunting’. Some of the by their mothers. • Ensure both local and international tourists are safeguarded
lions are sold to zoos, others are kept back for breeding, but from deceitful practices;
the majority disappear into the opaque and sprawling network What we have here is cruel exploitation of helpless lion cubs
of trophy hunting farms that are spread across the South and the scamming of thousands of tourists and volunteers •
Protect South Africa’s reputation as a respectable,
African bushveld. Lion parks will often vehemently deny any every year. And this is all legal, apparently. responsible tourism destination;
association with the hunting industry, claiming that they sell
/ trade / swap lions to intermediaries and that they have no This must end. The lion parks in South Africa are not only • And repair South Africa’s conservation reputation, following
control over what happens after that. The lion parks will simply fuelling the trade in wildlife and wildlife parts, they’re blatantly years of abuse by this cub petting industry.
refuse to disclose the identities of the buyers or locations of scamming innocent tourists and volunteers out of their money,
the lions’ new homes, in order to keep the lions “safe from and ruining South Africa’s proud tourism brand name. Instead of dwelling on the past and asking how this evil
poachers”. industry was allowed to mushroom and thrive, let’s take
In March 2016, the United States Department of Agriculture a step forward and simply end it. I believe in progress and
There have been several exposés on various lion parks around barred zoos from allowing cubs under four weeks old to be that the South African government, and President Cyril
South Africa (CBS 60 Minutes, Carte Blanche, The Guardian, petted or fed by members of the public. Ramaphosa particularly, can lead this beautiful country
to name just a few), which have uncovered these sales and away from abusive industries like this.
permits, demonstrating how cub petting facilities are selling I urge and plea with South Africa’s Government to adopt a
their lions to known lion hunting outfits. The canned hunt similar regulatory policy, and to ban all public interactions with It is up to all of us to stamp out the wrongs that we see. Please
attracts trophy collectors paying anywhere from $4,000 for a big cats. let’s start by stamping out the scam that is the big cat cub
lioness, to $40,000 for a male white lion (hunting wild white petting industry.
lions is illegal). The hunt takes place in a small fenced area The effects of such restrictions would:
(often the size of half a football field), complete with typical
5 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 6
PARTNERSHIPS:
AN INNOVATIVE
Our experience is that developing partnerships is critical to
addressing wetland degradation, which is driven by a myriad
of factors that cannot be addressed by a single organisation.
APPROACH TO
Some of the drivers of wetland degradation are, for instance,
linked to human health and to resolve these we need to work
with organisations in the health sector. Besides, developing
IMPACTFUL
partnerships has enabled us to use limited resources to
implement impactful conservation intervention across Africa.
In our quest to restore wetland ecosystems and stabilise crane
CONSERVATION
populations across Africa, partnerships remain the tool of
choice, although we acknowledge that they cannot solve all
problems or apply to every situation.
Partnerships are indeed not the answer to everything and
may be impossible in some circumstances. They can also be
difficult to negotiate and even when concluded, partnerships
may be negatively affected by lack of transparency and lack
Mwape Sichilongo, of equity among partners. Partnerships too can have serious
ICF/EWT Partnership Southern Africa governance challenges especially in legitimacy, benefit
sharing and upholding a rights-based approach. Most private
Floodplains Regional Manager, and sector partnerships, for instance, appreciate the importance
Dr Adalbert Aine-omucunguzi, ICF/EWT of community engagement but do not always take it seriously
Partnership East Africa Regional Manager and, sometimes, do not invest in developing their own capacity
mwapes@ewt.org.za and to deal with effective community engagement.
aldaberta@ewt.org.za The second most important site for Grey Crowned Crane and Blue Moreover, adequate time and resources have to be invested
Wildebeest in Zambia is Liuwa National Park Management under in the partnership process, as the process is usually as good
a community-private-public partnership. A three way long term as the product. Vision sharing, transparency and goodwill
agreement has been signed by the partners – Government through the are essential and, as George Archibald, co-founder of the
Department of National Parks and Wildlife, African Parks Network as International Crane Foundation, says in his autobiography,
the mandated managing partner and the Barotse Royal Establishment. above everything else friendship is always a good ingredient!
One of the key conservation challenges Corruption Perception Study has revealed that corruption is those being promoted by the African Parks Network involving
affecting all countries in the world and all sectors including 15 national parks in over ten African countries. There are
of our times is the limited capacity in conservation. This compromises the implementation of also community-public initiatives such as through community
single institutions to address the policies, even good ones, of which there are many. Ultimately, forestry and community game ranching or community-private
multiple threats to the environment high levels of environmental degradation manifesting in poor sector initiatives such as joint ventures. These are helping
waste management and loss of biodiversity especially from to overcome traditional barriers and biases such as lack of
that are emerging. This situation is demographic factors and socio-economic factors such as technical capacity or that communities are not interested in
critical to conservation in both rural and poaching and infrastructure development are the main drivers. conserving the environment.
urban landscapes, protected and open Many African governments have realised the consequences The Africa Crane Conservation Programme (ACCP) is using
areas, on public and private land. of not addressing this challenge and admitted the enormity the approach of partnerships to help restore wetlands and
of the situation. Zambia, for example, has approximately 30% populations of vulnerable and endangered crane species
of its total landmass dedicated to one form of conservation across the African continent. These partnerships are with
The 2018 Global Wetlands Outlook states that 35% of all or the other. At 22,000 km², the Kafue National Park is larger the authorities in government, as well as with other relevant
wetlands globally have been lost since 1970 and 25% or a than some countries! Even if we eliminated any wastage of NGOs and communities. Some of them are formalised in legal
quarter of wetland-dependent species are threatened with resources and inefficiencies, and resolved all governance instruments while others are ad hoc. Besides the practical
Grey Crowned Crane
extinction. This is as a result of competing and incompatible issues, the mandate of managing 30% of the country is simply wetland conservation benefit, our partnerships provide
activities encroaching on wetlands. Another illustration of the too large and the competition for resources from the national opportunities for our staff to gain field experience that broadens
current conservation challenge is financing. A 2018 study by treasury too high. Conservation partnerships are one of the their vision and helps in designing unique and impactful
the Biodiversity Financing Initiative (BIOFIN) – a collaborative fastest emerging solutions with positive results and many conservation projects. Where important sites for Cranes are in
effort between the Zambian Government and the United lessons to be shared. protected areas, partnerships with allow government facilitate
Nations Development Programme (UNDP), found that of all access and compliance with legal requirements.
approved budgets for biodiversity related sectors the average Wildlife, forestry, fisheries and water legislation in Zambia
releases are in the region of 40% over the past five years. This now provide for different types of partnerships. Community For example, through partnership with Conservation
reality regarding conservation financing is probably typical partnerships to enhance legitimacy and uphold community International, our East Africa team has been trained in the
of many developing countries. Conservation is important but rights are probably the easiest to promote but the most use of Conservation Agreements to promote community
there just isn’t the money to run it, especially protected areas difficult to implement due to limited management skills and stewardship. Conservation Agreements are voluntary
as competing land uses perceived to be of more economic institutional weaknesses due to limited empowerment of the negotiated agreements that outline conservation actions
value are increasing. marginalised community partners. that communities will undertake to reduce threats to the
environment, and the benefits that will be provided in return for
The implications of this state of affairs for biodiversity Partnerships with the private sector are offering important those actions. This model has worked well across our projects
conservation, especially when considered together with successes and lessons including opportunities because of sites in East Africa. Two important sites for cranes in Zambia
austerity measures being implemented by governments their institutional robustness, access to resources, skills where the ACCP is active are managed by a community-
and governance challenges, are vast. Governance in this and focus on performance. The number of conservation private-public partnership. In both sites, wildlife populations
context is to be seen in its widest sense, ranging from low partnerships is growing both in numbers and diversity. These are increasing, and tourism development has commenced and
Signing conservation agreements
capacity, conflicting roles and poor stakeholder participation, include private-public partnerships and community-private- is proving to be a workable model for achieving conservation
to misapplication of funds and corruption. The 2018 Global public partnerships in protected area management, such as outcomes.
7 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 8
ROCKLANDS:
CONSERVATION AND
MANAGEMENT
CHALLENGES IN
ADVENTURE-BASED
TOURISM
Alex Weiss, alexw032@gmail.com
The Cederberg, in the northern reaches of the Bouldering began in Rocklands with a handful of individuals in
the early 2000s on the Pakhuis Pass. Around 2005, new areas
Cape Fold Mountains, is one of South Africa’s for bouldering were being explored in the valley below it and as
premiere holiday destinations. It offers shady word-of-mouth spread, bouldering in the region snowballed.
campsites, sumptuous rock pools and walls of Over this period, climbing spread from being exclusively on
Cederberg Wilderness Area onto a mosaic of privately-owned
rock canvassed with centuries old rock art. plots. The combination of exponential growth of the sport and
multiple-land use and ownership has created a challenge to
managing the impacts of the sport and conservation of the
There is an array of hiking trails, coursing area.
among some elaborate rock formations
such as the Wolfberg Cracks, Maltese Cross
The mainstream media, in
and Wolfberg Arch. In the last two decades 2011, indicated that climbing
however, Rocklands and the Pakhuis Valley generated between R4m – R5m
has become the most notorious playground
in the region, attracting climbers from across to the economy of Rocklands/
the world. Clanwilliam
Outdoor recreational activities that contain an element of risk The rate of the growth of the sport exceeded the landowners’
and adventure have gained in popularity across the world over expectations. In 2011, there were approximately 600 climbers
the past three decades, and rock-climbing is no exception. throughout the climbing season, with numbers peaking in 2017
Bouldering is a type of rock climbing on boulders or overhangs at around 2,500. Until recently, the impact of the sport was not
that are small enough so that ropes and other gear are not extreme and no concerted intervention was implemented. The
required. A boulderer requires minimal equipment, usually 2017 climbing season, however, saw an increase in impacts on
only climbing shoes, a chalk bag (containing magnesium the environment, particularly that of human waste disposal
carbonate dust) and a crash pad (or bouldering mat). and widening staging areas at boulders but also an isolated
incident of an indigenous Yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius)
Rocklands, 35km north-east of Clanwilliam, is a world- being damaged during the opening of a new climbing route.
renowned bouldering site. Bouldering, as with any outdoor
sport, has an impact on the biophysical environment and Impacts associated with climbing depend not so much on
since 2005, bouldering in the region has grown in extent the total number of climbers, but rather on the spatial and
and numbers, signalling rising concern for conservation and temporal concentration of climbers in particular areas. In this
management of the area. vein, whilst most climbers have not noticed a big impact on
the area, the scale of these issues is not vast as Rocklands
Rocklands falls within the Greater Cape Floristic Region contains multiple areas, and climbers are indeed spread out.
(GCFR) and is found at an interface of the semi-arid Succulent Nevertheless, individual boulders were identified as being
Karoo Biome and Fynbos Biome. The vegetation type in which particularly affected in popular areas.
the bouldering sites are found is Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos.
The GCFR is the smallest and richest of the six floral kingdoms Landowners and climbers generally are concerned about the
in the world and the irregular nature of the Succulent Karoo/ ecological impacts, although overwhelmingly it is deemed
Fynbos interface promotes floristic intermingling. Fynbos important to recognise the scale of impacts relative to other
is the most biodiverse biome in South Africa and contains conservation versus the amount of people venturing through
the highest number of endemic species. It is however highly the area spanning primarily a four-month window
susceptible and sensitive to trampling and disturbance. (May – August).
9 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 10
and programmess such as formalised committees, forums
and environmental management plans (EMPs) that respond
adaptively to the dynamic changes in tourist demographics.
Such interventions are beginning to take place.
This research project highlights the value of qualitative
studies in understanding the effectiveness, legitimacy
and acceptability of conservation initiatives. Additionally, it
Map of bouldering sites (crags) in 2005 and 2017 respectively. In 2005 there were approximately 5 suggests that effective conservation requires coordination
bouldering crags compared to 54 in 2018 amongst stakeholder groups and continuous adaptation
and monitoring. Qualitative research has a vital role to
play in conservation as it can be used rapidly to determine
social and ecological statuses for planning as well as
monitoring purposes. Findings from this research provide
a glimpse of insight and clarity into understanding an
aspect of mountaineers in the adventure tourism context,
thereby enhancing the integration of tourist preferences
and perspectives into conservation management, which
Map showing the location of have been generally underestimated within broader policy
The ‘Minki’ boulder on The Plateau field. Chalk stains (a) are evident, vegetation has been trampled on (b) Rocklands and management frameworks. The results from this study
and the staging area (shaded in turquoise) has expanded (the area shaded in red) (c). can be used to guide and improve current management
actions and socio-ecological outcomes. The ability of
this, however, cannot be overstated and to go beyond
Other conservation threats in the Cederberg include the community as well as information dissemination is one aspect understanding perceptions and execute a shift towards
conversion of natural habitat to permanent agriculture, that would assist in more effective management. realising adaptive management, these findings will be best
rapid and intensive development, over-exploitation of water served in furthering cross-stakeholder deliberations which
resources, infestation by alien species, and inappropriate fire There are multiple facets to ecological conservation and can enhance the sustainable management of the sport and
management. climbing management of the area including permits and access Newly established sign put up by a local landowner environment simultaneously, whilst also generating
management, monitoring, and information dissemination. following the 2017 climbing season long-term socio-economic development.
Estimates from the mainstream media in 2011 indicated that Currently substantive coordination exists between climbing
climbing generated between R4m – R5m to the economy organisations, individuals, and stakeholders, and plans are
of Rocklands/Clanwilliam. A current threefold growth in being formulated and implemented to enhance conservation
the number of climbers suggests that this figure is now and climbing management. Stronger relationships, more
significantly higher. Tourism is a major contributor to the conscientious engagement and coherent structures and
economy of the Western Cape and adventure-based tourism guidelines between local climbers, climbing organisations
in Rocklands is an extension of this. The socio-economic and land managers are integral for successful sustainable
benefits of bouldering at Rocklands emphasises the growth of management of bouldering in the adventure-niche based
adventure-niche based tourism and the ability of ecotourism tourism context, so that it is ecologically, economically
to generate income and infrastructure development. and ethically responsible. This case study suggests that
communication and coordination between stakeholder groups
Individuals bouldering at Rocklands
Climbing intrinsically relies on a healthy environment and that involves adventure-tourists is vital to the success of
climbers will support programmes that protect natural conservation programs. Climbers in this case are furthermore
resources as well as those with historic and cultural values. integral to the relationship between the different landowners
To ensure the success of conservation interventions they as they, through participating in the sport, monitor the
should include and be backed up by outreach to the climbing environment.
community. One example of this is the issue of human waste
disposal. In response to this issue, toilets were built at two In an increasingly globalised, digitally connected world,
sites – at parking lots of trailheads. However, climbers suggest potential strategies for communicating with visitors are
that they are misplaced for the practicalities of climbing and diverse, via a variety of multimedia platforms from social media
thus will not solve the problem. In another event, a climbing and websites to strategically located signboards. Monitoring
area was closed off by landowners who were disgruntled with and access management can be enhanced with technology, on
persistent disregard for the area (such as littering and graffiti). websites and mobile applications. These methods, however, Roadside Agterpakhuys valley from the Pakhuys Pass looking north
Enhanced communication and engagement with the climbing rely on building on essential traditional forms of coordination
Agterpakhuys valley looking south west from the Plateau boulder field
11 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 12
SHOWCASING OUR SUPPORTERS
TACKLING ILLEGAL FOR THE LOVE
WILDLIFE TRADE OF WILDLIFE
The EWT held its first Valentine’s Day
Ashleigh Dore,
EWT Wildlife in Trade Programme Manager Dinner at Possums in Johannesburg
AshleighD@ewt.org.za on 14 February 2019.
Guests shared their love not only with their partners,
but with the EWT as well, through their generous
support. Although the rain poured down, and power
Over the last year, the EWT’s Wildlife in Trade The focus species for our work will be rhinos
cuts struck, this did nothing to dampen the mood, and
Programme has been working with other and elephants, which are both facing severe
perhaps even added to the romance of the occasion,
conservation NGOs to develop a programme of and increasing threats from poaching, and the as Thomas Dancer mesmerised the guests with
research aimed at better understanding illegal main output of the research will be empirical his skilful saxophone playing. Love was definitely in
wildlife trade in and around the Great Limpopo information indicating when, where and how the air, as this wonderful event raised in excess of
Transfrontier Conservation area (GLTFCA). illegal products from these species move R325,000 for our conservation work.
Together with our research partners, TRAFFIC around the GLTFCA region. We will share this
(the wildlife trade monitoring network) and the information with relevant law enforcement Guests were not only treated to the most incredible
World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF SA), with authorities, including the South African Police meal and fabulous wine, sponsored by Painted Wolf
support from the United States Agency for Service, Department of Environmental Affairs, Wines, but also to a talk by Grant Beverley, EWT
International Development (USAID), the EWT is National Prosecuting Authority and South African Carnivore Conservation Programme Lowveld Regional
embarking on a study to identify trade routes Revenue Services, to assist them in targeting Coordinator, about his decade-long love affair with
for illegal wildlife trade out of the GLTFCA. The wildlife crime as effectively as possible. Accurate Wild Dogs. A day with him in the field was one of the
hotly contested auction prizes. Many thanks to all of
GLTFCA is an area of very high biodiversity information is vital for successful enforcement
our wonderful auction and raffle prize sponsors, as
and is a critical region for the conservation of of wildlife crime, and it is the intention of this
well as Possums for hosting us, Sharry Banner for her
charismatic species impacted by wildlife crime project to provide this. assistance in organising the event, and our fabulous
and, as a result, faces a disproportionately high guests for showing their love and support!
threat from organised wildlife criminals.
WAYS TO GIVE
Donating is now as easy as snapping your fingers… or your phone!
Supporters can now donate to the EWT quickly and safely, using SnapScan.
All you need to do is:
1. Download the SnapScan application on your smartphone
2. Register with your details – this should take no more than a few minutes
3. Scan our EWT barcode to make your donation in the amount of your choice
(be sure to choose donation rather than e-shop from the dropdown menu) –
you’ll be asked to enter your PIN so you know the transaction is secure.
It’s as easy as one-two-three!
Once you’ve made your donation via SnapScan, you’ll get an SMS confirming the transaction, and the EWT will be notified via SMS
too. Supporting Conservation in Action couldn’t be simpler.
13 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 14
TAILS FROM THE FIELD
A PLACE OF
CONNECTEDNESS
AND BIODIVERSITY
WITHIN A CITY
– TABLE MOUNTAIN’S FRESH WATER
ECOSYSTEMS AND THE ELUSIVE
GHOST FROG
Joshua Weeber,
EWT Threatened Amphibian Programme Table Mountain Project Intern
wbrjosh@gmail.com
Typical Table Mountain Ghost Frog habitat
Table Mountain rises above a bustling Critically Endangered by the IUCN. One of six species within Field work has begun!
the Heleophryne genus, the Table Mountain Ghost Frog
metropolis, a rocky beacon suffocated on one epitomises the isolation of the mountain, restricted to just six
side by concrete office blocks and frantic train perennial streams on the mountain, and disconnected from
stations, and hemmed in on the other by the its immediate relatives by the densely populated coastal plain
around Cape Town. The species has also vanished from two
icy shores of the Atlantic ocean. This towering other streams on the mountain in the last 30 years, streams
geological wonder stands isolated and that have experienced severe human impacts in the form of
alien plants and extensive path development. The remaining six
disconnected, separated from its sandstone streams are facing similar threats. Despite these issues, very
relatives the Hottentot Holland Mountains to little is known about the Ghost Frog’s habitat requirements,
the east by the vast dune system of the Cape life history or population size. Nor is there adequate long-term
monitoring of the perennial streams in which the species has
Flats. Although this ancient isolation has led evolved. Filling this knowledge gap is a crucial step towards
to the emergence of a variety of incredible ensuring the Ghost Frog’s survival.
flora and fauna restricted to the mountain, it
has also made this unique system susceptible
to change. As the city continues to grow, Heleophryne rosei, a unique
human activity now threatens to disrupt this amphibian, Red Listed as
isolated mountain ecosystem and the unique
organisms that call it home, in particular the Critically Endangered These tadpoles have large mouths which they use to
suck onto cobbles - Photo credit Nick Telford Table Mountain Ghost Frog - Photo credit Nick Telford
sensitive freshwater streams that meander by the IUCN.
down the mountain.
In light of this, and thanks to funding from the Table Mountain These streams are home to a variety of other endemic range-
restricted species such as the undescribed freshwater their survival for future generations to come. South African National Parks (SANParks),
Fund, a three-year project was launched in January 2019, PROJECT PARTNERS: Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), the Cape Nature (CN), the City of Cape Town (CCT),
dedicated to improving the freshwater ecosystems on Table fish (Galaxias sp) and the possibly extinct Elusive Skimmer
(Orthetrum rubens). The population of Rose’s Mountain Toadlet Table Mountain Fund (TMF), the University of Cape Town (UCT), Stellenbosch University
Mountain. Lead by the EWT, in partnership with the South South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), (SU), the South African Environmental Observation Network
African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the project (Capensibufo rosei) on Table Mountain has also disappeared,
aims to implement long-term monitoring protocols to assess almost certainly a result of anthropogenic influences. However,
trends in stream health, establish baseline data on key target fully understanding the issues these freshwater ecosystems
species endemic to these streams, as well as identify and face and correctly identifying measures to address them is
implement conservation interventions to directly improve no easy task. This project aims to provide a solid foundation (SAEON) and the Freshwater Research Centre (FRC). Dr Jessica da Silva (SANBI), Dr Ian Little (EWT),
stream health. on which long-term conservation actions can be built, and KEY CONTRIBUTORS: Joshua Weeber (EWT), Assoc. Prof. Res Altwegg (UCT), Nick Telford (SANBI).
cultivate partnerships and synergies to coordinate and Dr Jeanne Tarrant (EWT), Prof. Krystal Tolley (SANBI),
At the heart of this project is the Table Mountain Ghost Frog strengthen these actions. It is time we learnt more about
(Heleophryne rosei), a unique amphibian Red Listed as these complex systems and initiate actions that will ensure
15 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 16
A WILD
START
TO 2019
Cole du Plessis, These masks reduce stress for the Wild Dogs during Performing health checks on the Wild Dogs
EWT Carnivore Conservation Programme, the relocation process - Photo credit Johann Vorster - Photo credit Johann Vorster
Wild Dog Expansion Project Coordinator
ColeD@ewt.org.za were able to manage the situation and ensure the Wild Dogs’
Wild Dogs - Photo credit Johann Vorster (Vossie)
wellbeing throughout this delay.
The team, in the five-vehicle convoy, arrived at Karingani
Game Reserve at midnight. We drove the crates straight into
the boma, offloaded them, and on the count of three, everyone
On 26 January, a pack of 13 Wild Dogs was opened the crate doors and watched on as the newly formed
pack had touched down on the turf of their new home. As part
successfully relocated into Karingani Game of the reintroduction process, the Karingani Pack will stay in
Reserve – the newest addition to the Wild Dog the boma for several weeks before being released onto the
Expansion Project. reserve. This will give them time to strengthen their bond as a
newly formed pack, and allow time for them to adapt to their
new home environment.
Karingani Game Reserve is located in southwestern
Mozambique at the junction of the Kruger National Park in
South Africa and the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique,
and forms part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier
The birth of Karingani Game
Conservation Area. Reserve was an inspired effort
to integrate national parks Wild Dogs in transit - Photo credit Johann Vorster
The property is currently under restoration and expands over
150,000 ha. Due to its size, ecology, and management efforts and thereby expand connected
made to keep the area protected, it has been identified as an safe space for conservation
ideal Wild Dog reintroduction site and will form part of the Wild
Dog Expansion Project that is coordinated by the South African
management.
Wild Dog Advisory Group.
Large refuge sites such as these give hope to Wild Dog
Without other resident packs existing in the area anymore, conservation – a species that needs space to grow. With the
the dispersal groups of Wild Dogs that have previously passed feasibility assessment done prior to the reintroduction, we
through have never settled, and Karingani Game Reserve anticipate that the reserve has a carrying capacity of 50 Wild
has thereby contributed as a corridor but never a place of Dogs, and with the 150,000 ha for these Wild Dogs to roam,
permanent refuge for Wild Dogs. By introducing a stable Karingani Game Reserve is of high priority in Wild Dog
pack onto the property, the hope is to promote an increasing conservation.
population in the surrounding area.
This addition of space to the Wild Dog Expansion Project has
On the eve of the Wild Dog relocation, the team congregated increased our total safe space to over 1,200,000 ha, which will
at the temporary holding facility (a transition zone needed for allow for Wild Dog numbers to grow and the genetic diversity
the international relocation) to review the capture strategies, to increase. Such work is only made possible by organisations
check through the equipment and do the final checks before collaborating, and that’s what makes the Wild Dog Advisory
the relocation. The following morning, at first light, the team Group a true success. In saying that, a special mention must be
was underway with immobilising the Wild Dogs. Once that was made to our partners for making this Wild Dog reintroduction
complete, we fitted the tracking collars, applied the necessary possible:
vaccinations, drew samples and once complete, loaded the
Wild Dogs into their designated crates. Karingani Game Reserve; ANAC; Saving the Survivors; Wildlife
ACT; Dr Pete Goodman and the National Zoological Gardens.
Shortly after that, we were en route to Karingani Game
Reserve. Overall, the trip went well except for a four-hour
delay as Mozambican customs officials were hesitant to allow
the Wild Dogs into the country. Being an experienced team, we
Wild Dogs sedated before the move - Photo credit Johann Vorster Wild Dogs in transit - Photo credit Johann Vorster
17 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 18THE EXCHANGE MEDIKE
OF A LIFETIME: NATURE
RESERVE
LOXTON TO KAMIESBERG
Bonnie Schumann,
EWT Drylands Conservation Programme Nama Karoo Coordinator, and
Cobus Theron EWT Drylands Conservation Programme Manager
BonnieS@ewt.org.za and CobusT@ewt.org.za Gaining knowledge on
ONE YEAR ON
communal farming
Catherine Vise,
EWT Soutpansberg Protected Area Water
The EWT’s Drylands Conservation Programme landscape. The Kamiesberg farmers shared their experiences
Conservation Project Coordinator, and
of establishing organisational structures and the challenges
is based out of Loxton, in the Nama Karoo. they faced in doing so. The structure under which the Loxton Oldrich van Schalkwyk,
We focus on the conservation of Endangered farmers operate is somewhat dysfunctional. Interpersonal EWT Soutpansberg Protected Area Manager
dryland species, and the Critically conflict amongst the farmers themselves, and a feeling of
isolation in terms of support available to them as small-scale catherinev@ewt.org.za and
Endangered Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus farmers, are all challenges they currently face. We hoped that oldrichvs@ewt.org.za
monticularis) is the programme’s flagship the visit to other farmers, who had found solutions to some of
these issues, would be beneficial.
species.
The journey to Kamiesberg was made possible through a
One of our main initiatives is promoting sustainable land collaborative effort between the EWT and the Department of
management practices in drylands, with a view to conserving Agriculture: Land Reform and Rural Development
habitat and supporting livelihoods. The EWT engages with (Western- and Northern Cape) and CSA.
farmers, including commercial farmers, commonage farmers Medike landscape
and land reform beneficiaries, who farm with livestock on The knowledge exchange highlighted the
properties which are home to Riverine Rabbits. We also work following key lessons:
with farmers operating under, often difficult, land tenureship
systems, such as commonages, to explore models to find 1. Collaboration is vital and can leverage benefits that
solutions to some of the challenges they face. working in isolation cannot achieve. It’s hard to believe that a year has passed been spent over the past year performing maintenance tasks
2. Livestock improvement is key to farming efficiency in on this infrastructure. This includes painting and treating
since the EWT took the historic step of exterior walls of the Log Cabin and Pioneer’s Cottage, as well
terms of production.
3. Conservation and agriculture can be successfully purchasing our first ever conservation as fixing thatching on the Boulder Cottage. We had a contractor
integrated through the Contractual Stewardship approach. property, the Medike Nature Reserve in the help with the thatching, but as part of this, they also showed
our Rangers how to do thatch so that this task could be taken
Following the visit, emerging farmer, Paul Vorster, said: “I
beautiful and biodiversity-rich Soutpansberg on by the rangers in future.
experienced and saw for myself what these farmers have Mountains. This purchase was the initial
achieved by working together, even though there was conflict, step in a much bigger journey – the journey
they managed to move forward from strength to strength.
I realise now that I had to come here to learn this.” towards creating the Soutpansberg Protected
Area (SPA).
Feedback from both the Loxton group, as well as the
stewardship farmers of the Kamiesberg, was that the As we celebrate the anniversary of this purchase, made possible
The knowledge exchange was deemed a success by
knowledge exchange was a success and a valuable platform by the generosity of the Roberts family in Australia, we thought
Loxton and Kamiesberg farmers
for sharing information. It provided an opportunity for both it fitting to look back at some of what we have achieved thus
parties to gain knowledge on communal farming, the benefits far, and what we have planned for the future.
and challenges of land reform, as well as the process of
In 2017, the EWT invited Conservation South Africa’s Senior farmers organising themselves into formal structures. TRAILS
Stewardship Coordinator, from their Namaqualand Green
Over the past year, a lot of attention has been paid to opening Medike road maintenance
Economic Demonstration, to facilitate a participatory needs- The knowledge exchange concept proved to be a valuable up trails across the reserve. These trails are predominantly for
assessment workshop with the Krom River land reform tool to amplify the benefits of conservation stewardship and patrols undertaken by the SPA Rangers, to give them easier
farmers. The purpose was to explore the challenges and needs learning from peers about the various conditions of farming Other infrastructure development included installing a solar
access across the reserve. They will also double up as hiking
of these farmers. The possibility of a knowledge exchange visit and organisational structures. We believe this concept is electricity system and Wi-Fi in all the main houses (except
trails, and take in some of the beautiful features we have on
to the Kamiesberg Conservation Stewardship Project was an important component in changing mindsets towards the rondavel and Boulder Cottage). This largely improves
Medike, such as a giant Baobab, a fountain and a waterfall.
raised at this meeting. sustainable land management. Seeing other farmers with work and communications from the reserve. We have also
The trails include the Baobab Trail, the Tree Trail, Waterfall
similar (or even fewer) resources available, reaping the benefits Trail, Pipeline Trail, Cave Trail (in progress) and Fountain Trail. spent a lot of time repairing and maintaining fences on the
In 2018, Bonnie Schumann, Nama Karoo Coordinator for of sustainable land management, provided our farmers with boundary of the reserve. This is in order to keep cattle from the
In total, we have opened up 15 km of trails throughout the
the EWT Drylands Conservation Programme, approached insight and more importantly, the hope for positive change in neighbouring Ndouvhada property out of the Protected Area.
reserve.
Conservation South Africa (CSA) regarding the possibility the Nama Karoo. Redundant fences have also been removed from other areas
of an exchange visit between our Karoo farmers and their of the reserve, as these pose a threat to wildlife. The reserve
INFRASTRUCTURE
Kamiesberg counterparts. The purpose of the proposed This initiative is funded by the Global Environment Facility now also has new sign boards installed, both directing people
Medike has a number of houses as part of its built infrastructure.
technical knowledge exchange was to facilitate a peer-to- through the Department of Environmental Affairs and the to the reserve and notifying them of the rules and regulations
This includes the Main Farm House, Pioneer’s Cottage, The
peer learning visit in support of sustainable land management of the reserve.
United Nations Development Programme. Log Cabin, the Boulder Cottage and a rondavel. Much time has
and agricultural-centred livelihoods in the rural Karoo
19 Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition Conservation Matters | Issue 12: The Connected Edition 20You can also read
