YOUR CONSERVATION - OUR FOCUS
SA Hunters is a voluntary membership organisation that represents the interests of citizen hunters, wildlife custodians, firearm owners and sport shottists. It was established in 1949 to promote conservation of game species and wildlife habitats, and responsible hunting.
save our succulents
Purpose
To reduce incidents and impacts of wildlife poaching on wildlife custodians, wildlife populations, and the environment.
This is done through:
- launching of specific anti-poaching initiatives that combat poaching, especially in areas that may not receive sufficient government support, in particular in support of wildlife custodians
- gathering data that can contribute to reducing poaching through various means
- contribute information to reduce response time and improve effectiveness of law enforcement
- establish and support effective networks and partnerships for improved cooperation and synergy between relevant role-players
- contribute to specific relevant interventions in support of anti-poaching and species survival
- where necessary and possible, provide input and support for better and more effective legislation, policy, prosecution and legal processes
- educate and raise awareness of the nature and extent of poaching, its negative impacts and potential solutions
- facilitate sustainable funding for anti-poaching operations
Background
The reasons for poaching differ for different species and areas. In some cases, poverty and lack of legal access to resources drive poaching. In other cases, it is greed. However, the illegal wildlife trade is profitable and as long as the reward remains bigger than the risk, it will continue, and wildlife will suffer. In the case of animals, the methods used in poaching are often horrific, such as snaring and poisoning where animals suffer a slow death.
Many of the members of SA Hunters are active wildlife custodians, whether or not they are wildlife ranchers, wildlife managers, or conservationist. They care for wildlife. With poaching rife and resources and capacity of law enforcement limited, members choose to dedicate time and resources towards anti-poaching. Hence the establishment of the anti-poaching programme.
- the Save our Succulents project that was launched by the Namakwaland Branch to combat poaching of the unique and rare succulents and other wildlife of the greater Namakwaland area
- funding an ex-situ succulent nursery to house and propagate confiscated succulents in collaboration with SANBI and SANParks – Richtersveld Transfrontier Conservation Area
- membership of the forum for the national response strategy and action plan to address the illegal trade in succulents in South Africa
- conducting awareness initiatives, including taking school groups from Namakwaland to Goegap Nature Reserve
- sweeping for and removing snares as part of the snare-buster project in several branches
- supporting and conducting anti-poaching controls in certain areas where there is an agreement with the local authorities
- participating in national rhino conservation and anti-poaching strategies and biodiversity management plans, e.g., SA Hunters conducted its own investigation into poaching situation on the Mozambique side of the border with Kruger National Park in collaboration with hunting concessionaires. A report was submitted to the Commission of Enquiry on Rhino Poaching, of which several recommendations were implemented
- donating equipment to conservation agencies towards improving their ability to do their work as part of our People for Parks programme
- participating in scientific symposiums and debates on conservation and poaching, specifically focusing on the role of the private sector and legal, regulated hunting
- commenting on national implementation and position papers for the Convention on International Trade of Threatened Species (CITES), including listing and de-listing of species in support of their conservation
Where meaningful, SA Hunters collaborates with government and other relevant role-players. The focus is on supporting landowners, host communities and wildlife custodians in their fight against poaching.
How to Participate
Get involved
Anyone can get involved in the anti-poaching programme
- Familiarise yourself with environmental legislation and law enforcement processes
- Tell your friends and family about environmental crime, including poaching and why it should be stopped
- If you suspect that an environmental crime or poaching is taking place, report it to relevant authorities (such the relevant national, provincial or local government offices, the South African Police Service or call the Environmental Crimes and Incidents Hotline on 0800 205 205
- Donate funding and resources such as remote cameras to record unauthorised vehicle registration numbers or activities, satellite phones (some areas do not have cell-phone network), trailers to convey anti-poaching equipment, data processing, publication of awareness material. Contact the conservation manager for more information about requirements needed.
- Actively participate in the Save our Succulents initiative if you are a landowner, law enforcement and/or crime intelligence expert, or wildlife expert
- Actively participate in snare-sweeping and removal as part of the Snare-Buster initiative where the project is conducted in your area
For more information contact the SA Hunters’ conservation manager
Conservation in Action
February 2024
November 2023
Ons bewaringsbestuurder, Lizanne Nel en lede van ons SOS projek, het deelgeneem aan ‘n ondersoek na die onwettige mark vir Suid-Afrikaanse vetplantflora uit die Sukkulente-Karoo-streek, en die impak van hierdie mark op mense en ekosisteme in die streek. Die finale verslag van hierdie uitstekende studie is nou beskikbaar en verskaf belangrike insigte.
Die bewaringskantoor van SA Jagters en Wildbewaringsvereniging vorm ook deel van die forum vir die ontwikkeling en implementering van die Nasionale Reaksiestrategie om die krisis aan te spreek in Suid-Afrika. Baie van die plante in die area is uniek aan ons land en kom nêrens anders op aarde voor nie. Van die spesies is egter besig om te verdwyn as gevolg van ‘n vinnig toenemende aanslag deur kriminele netwerke wat die versameling en handel van skaars en bedreigde spesies orkestreer om die internasionale vraag na sierplante te voed.
Namakwa-tak dra by tot die bewaring van die Gannabos Kokerboomwoud in die Noord-Kaap. In samewerking met die grondeienaars is die kokerboomwoud nou toegespan om onwettige betreding en versameling van plante te bestry. Die bedoeling is egter nie dat toeriste weggewys word nie, maar toegang word beheer waarvan ʼn gedeelte van die inkomste aangewend sal word vir bewaring van dié unieke area. Hierdie bewaringsvennootskap is tot voordeel van die natuur en ons nageslag. Toekomsplanne sluit in die oprigting van inligtingsborde om toeriste in te lig oor die gebied en die unieke plante.
Die tak het ook twee inligtingsessies aangebied vir leerders van Okiep Hoërskool en die personeel van Goegap-natuurreservaat. Verskeie rolspelers het die leerders toegespreek om bewustheid te skep van die belangrikheid van bewaring van ons unieke omgewing en die negatiewe impak van stroping van wilde plante en reptiele op die natuur en op die mens.
Namakwa-tak se Save our Succulents bewaringsinisiatief het 100 saailinghouers aan Kirstenbosch Nasionale Botaniese Tuin geskenk vir beskermde vetplante uit die Namakwaland wat by stropers afgeneem is. Volgens Adam Harrower, senior botanis van Xerophytic plantversamelings by Kirstenbosch Botaniese Tuin, het die skerp toename in die stroop van bedreigde plante sekere Namakwaland-spesies wat wild voorkom, uitgewis. Die saailinghouers is van kritieke belang om die gekonfiskeerde plante lewendig te hou en hul voortbestaan te verseker.
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