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The seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in 2015 to offer a roadmap for addressing pressing environmental challenges by 2030. But what does that have to do with anti-poaching efforts in Africa? The Wildlife Economy is a “thing”, as unpalatable as it may be to animal rights
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By Prof Brian Child State agencies have played a central and often remarkable role in the conservation of wild resources in many countries (including forests, wildlife, drylands, and fisheries). However, conservation requirements, the role of the state, and the capacity of state agencies are changing rapidly. The fulcrum of governance
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South Africa has an extraordinary diversity of succulent plants, around 40% of the world's total, with incredible endemism rates. The Succulent Karoo, spanning from the Western Cape into Namibia, represents one of only two arid biodiversity hotspots worldwide. This semi-desert receives minimal winter rainfall (50-200mm annually) but hosts
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Charcoal's Role in African Energy Charcoal production and trade employs millions of people across Africa. It is the primary cooking fuel in many African cities, with demand rising due to population growth and rural-to-urban migration. In rural Sub-Saharan Africa, where 80% of residential energy is used for cooking,
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A gin trap is a mechanical device with a simple yet brutal design. In Mozambique, rural blacksmiths use rudimentary materials and tools to make gin traps from old car springs. The typical components include: 1. Metal Jaws: Usually made of steel or iron, these semi-circular components form the gripping mechanism.
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By Hank's Voice The video Tuskers: Saving the Last Gentle Giants, produced by the animal rights organization Humane Society International (HSI), seeks to convince viewers that Amboseli's super tuskers are on the brink of extinction—unless trophy hunting in Tanzania is banned. But is that really
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By Prof Brian Child The success of Homo sapiens lies ultimately in the ability to cooperate in bands, clans, tribes, nations, and as a global civilization. We are bound together in common enterprise through uniquely human myths, norms, and rules. As the only species with the ability to trade, we
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Creating safe spaces for people and animals is essential in addressing human-wildlife conflict. The Mozambique Wildlife Alliance (MWA) is actively tackling this challenge through an innovative program. In Mozambique, farming is deeply ingrained in the culture, with each household cultivating its own fields. However, this traditional practice becomes problematic when
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The Iberian Peninsula, encompassing Spain and Portugal, has experienced significant deforestation over centuries due to agricultural expansion, urbanization, and industrial activities. As a result, only about 8% of the original forests remain in the region. The Mediterranean forests have been extensively transformed into croplands and pastures in Spain, and their
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By Ian Cox The South African Constitution obliges the state to ensure, through the implementation of reasonable legislative and other measures, that South Africans enjoy an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being. To this end, the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 or NEMA states as a
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A Transfrontier Conservation Area is defined as a component of a large ecological region that straddles the boundaries of two or more countries encompassing one or more protected areas as well as multiple resource use zones. The Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, or KAZA, lies in the Kavango and Zambezi River
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By Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Dilguerian De Oliveira Conceição Anti-poaching rangers often face dangerous and unpredictable situations in the field. While they may be armed, close-quarters confrontations with poachers will sometimes render firearms useless. In such scenarios, proficiency in unarmed combat techniques enables rangers to subdue poachers without escalating violence unnecessarily.