The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries have announced that seven Integrated Wildlife Zones will be created across South Africa. The purpose of these areas will be to protect the country’s rhinos.
The seven Integrated Wildlife Zones are similar to the Integrated Protection Zones, which were used within national parks and provincial reserves. The zones are essentially an expansion of the efforts already in place to protect white and black rhinos within South Africa.
By introducing a zoning approach, the necessary resources can be redirected to areas most in need of support. It furthermore ensures cooperation between the state and private role-players and is aligned to the objectives of South Africa’s National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking.
Barbara Creecy, the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries said: ‘By demarcating areas primarily around rhino populations, wildlife in the area, as well the people living in and around conservation areas, will be protected.’
‘This initiative prevents borders and boundaries from inhibiting planning and the implementation of actions aimed at halting rhino poaching and the smuggling of rhino horn.’
The concept is based on multi-party cooperation, but will ensure the use of appropriate technologies to ensure surveillance, early warning and detection, all in an effort to become more pro-active.
‘As we celebrate World Rhino Day 2020, we applaud the coming together of key role-players who have joined the national government in our fight against rhino poaching through the utilisation of new, and tested, technologies,’ said the Minister.
The Wildlife Zone initiative is supported by the Peace Parks Foundation with funding from the US Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the Dutch, Swedish and UK People’s Postcode Lotteries.
‘The Department of Environment Forestry and Fisheries is proud to partner with Peace Parks Foundation, and all the government and non-governmental organisations that will be involved in this on the important initiative,’ the Minister said.
Despite the marked decrease in rhino poaching during the COVID-19 national lockdown, the government’s target remains an end to rhino poaching.
‘As a key member of the iconic Big Five, we hope that as our provincial borders open more people will be able to travel to our national parks and other conservation areas to experience first-hand our natural heritage, and see these ancient animals in the wild,’ concluded the Minister.
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