Sustainable vs unsustainable trends in game ranching in Africa
Date
2016-09
Authors
Schack, Wilhelm, author
International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Abstract
Wildlife Ranching was born at the time when passionate individuals thought it was possible to conserve the dwindling wildlife resources of Africa by commercialising the utilization of animals and other natural resources. These pioneering individuals started to perceive realistic outcomes for wildlife management in Africa at a stage when most natural resources were becoming, or were already, under immense pressure from the ever expanding human population but also from the ever increasing sophistication of ruthless exploiters as personalised by poaching syndicates and money grabbers. The initial successes in this regard of pioneers like Ian Player, Norman Atherstone, Zacharias Young, Alec Rough and Jan Oelofse are today legendary, but greatly obscured by the tremendous tide of commercialisation that got a very strong foothold in a venture these days often referred to as an 'industry'. In terms of the long view regarding planetary health, commitment to social responsibility, participation by the less privileged, poverty alleviation and food security, it will be to the advantage of every individual on earth to contemplate the wise and sustainable management and utilization of our natural resources and through that the ultimate wellbeing of humankind. This presentation deals with topics like rhino horn trade, breeding of colour variant antelopes and methods to engage African communities in wildlife ranching to ultimately ensure positive outcomes for human advancement, food security, conservation ethics, and a heritable and healthy earth for posterity from an African perspective.
Description
Presented at the 9th international wildlife ranching symposium: wildlife - the key to prosperity for rural communities, held on 12-16 September 2016 at Hotel Safari & the Safari Court, Windhoek, Namibia.