African Wildlife & Environment Issue 83

GENERAL

maintenance. Buildings, roads, fencing and other infrastructure within the protected areas require ongoing maintenance and upgrades to remain functional and effective. However, due to budgetary limitations and/ or poor management practices, maintenance is often deferred, and infrastructure deteriorates, negatively impacting visitor experiences and the ecosystems themselves. Then there is the challenge of poaching, specifically by international criminal syndicates, which is a significant threat to wildlife populations and the conservation of protected areas. South Africa is home to a variety of iconic wildlife species such as elephants, rhinos, pangolins, and marine species such as abalone, which are under constant threat from poaching activities. Despite a wide range of anti-poaching measures, including the deployment of anti-poaching units, the number of poached animals continues to increase. Another issue facing protected areas in South Africa is the increasing pressure on land use. As consumer markets and the human populations they serve continue to grow, more land is needed for urban and agricultural development, leading to habitat loss and environmental degradation. Protected areas, and their buffer zones which often act as corridors for conservation efforts across broader landscapes, are increasingly under threat by human activities, leading to habitat fragmentation and degradation. A critical success factor in the success of any conservation endeavor is community engagement and beneficiation. We recognise the importance of engaging with local communities to support environmental conservation, promote environmental awareness, and enable sustainable livelihoods. All of this points to the need to rethink our conservation models. We need to work towards more inclusive models. Conservation has largely in the past been a top-down approach, driven by governments and non-governmental organisations, with not enough input or involvement from local communities. This model has often been criticised for being exclusionary, as it has failed to take into account in any meaningful way, the perspectives and interests of those living in and around a particular ecosystem. This leads to conflict, misconceptions, and strained relations. In theory, inclusive conservation models aim to work directly with local communities, engaging them as key stakeholders in conservation efforts but there is a lack of clear evidence of this being implemented successfully in South Africa at the scale that it has meaningful impact on the conservation success we need to see now. This is not a new argument and suggestion, but it needs to be truly implemented now. This model recognizes that local people have important insights and knowledge about their environment and natural resources and that their participation is essential for ensuring long term conservation success. Key to this approach is that inclusive conservation models require a holistic approach, recognizing that conservation efforts cannot be isolated from other social and economic issues. It is in the creation of resilient communities in and around

our protected areas that we really can see a stronger conservation model. There are real opportunities for protected areas to support the development of small enterprises in the communities surrounding them to provide services needed in the protected areas. WESSA and the Tsitsikamma National Park are planning to offer New Venture Creation training for identified community members in 2023 and this could be rolled out to other Parks and protected areas as well. The goals of such a model should include local communities taking the lead in implementing conservation activities, such as sustainable harvesting of resources, wildlife monitoring, and protecting fragile ecosystems. By recognising the importance of engaging local communities in conservation efforts, we will move towards conservation that is more effective, equitable, and sustainable in the long term. There is a lack of public awareness and participation in conservation efforts, and this is a significant challenge facing protected areas in South Africa. Many South Africans have little understanding and consequently regard for the conservation of wildlife and natural resources, and this translates to a lack of support and investment in the country's protected areas. Despite the challenges facing protected areas in South Africa, there have been some positive developments. The proliferation of technology and social media platforms has created a platform for more effective conservation advocacy and education aimed at creating awareness about the importance of protected areas. It is imperative that we make the most of this opportunity to communicate with civil society. Protected areas in South Africa offer numerous ecological and social benefits, protecting the country's biodiversity and natural resources. However, the challenges facing their effectiveness are significant, and swift action is necessary to address issues such as poaching, inadequate funding, infrastructure decay, and resource pressures. Collaboration between conservation agencies, the government, non-government organisations, the private sector, and communities is vital to the urgent action required to address the conservation crises we are facing. A whole-of-society approach is needed to mitigate our human impact on our planet.

Tamanna Patel, Oliver Cowan, Ian Little, Yolan Friedmann, Andy Blackmore. 2023. The State of Provincial Reserves in South Africa, Challenges and Recommendations. https://ewt.org.za/resources/cpsu-programme/

Helena Atkinson CEO | WESSA

3 | African Wildlife & Environment | Issue 83 (2023)