SANParks criteria for loan of wildlife from National Parks. Criteria for loan of wildlife from National Parks

Transcription

1 Page 1 Criteria for loan of wildlife from National Parks February 2017

2 Page 2 INTRODUCTION The future of conservation in South Africa depends on developing innovate strategies that are not only ecologically appropriate, but also economically viable and socially just for previously disadvantaged communities. Achieving all three objectives is challenging, but is vital for the continued growth and success of wildlife conservation in South Africa. Hence, the establishment of the Biodiversity Economic Strategy (BES) to play a major role towards job creation and poverty reduction in especially rural communities and in the transformation of the economy by initiating biodiversity based enterprises, thus, creating an appreciable and sustainable economic presence. The vision of BES is to optimise the total economic benefits of the wildlife industries through its sustainable use, in line with the Vision of the Department of Environmental Affairs. The BES seeks to contribute to the transformation of the biodiversity economy in South Africa through inclusive economic opportunities, reflected by a sector which is equitable - equitable access to resources, equitable and fair processes and procedures and equitable in distribution of resources (i.e. business, human, financial, indigenous species, land, water) in the market. To address these transformation BES imperatives, BES has the principles of (1) conservation of biodiversity and ecological infrastructure, (2) sustainable use of indigenous resources, (3) fair and equitable beneficiation, (4) socio-economic sustainability, (5) incentive driven compliance to regulation, (6) ethical practices and (7) improving quality and standards of products. BES provides the opportunity to redistribute South Africa s indigenous biological/genetic resources in an equitable manner, across various income categories and settlement areas of the country. Development and growth of the biodiversity economy focuses on markets and activities which address national socio-economic imperatives, especially in the rural areas. Working collaboratively and cooperatively, BES provides the opportunity to develop the rural economy of the country and address environmental and rural development imperatives of government. The criteria captured in this document provides the context and required application process necessary for a decision to be taken on the request for the loan of wildlife from National Parks in support of SANParks vision towards socio-economic benefit-sharing in the sustainable utilisation of wildlife, ensuring consistency in decision-making and the implementation thereof. GUIDING PRINCIPLES SANParks approach to wildlife economy focuses on the key outcome of improving the wellbeing of South Africans. The challenge is to have relatively fast impact on many people without constraining resilience in the socio-economic-ecological complex system. In addition, many present practices across the land-use spectrum in South Africa, accentuate the historical social wrongs of the past associated with conservation. Expanding opportunities that address these causes (at a local scale these are human wildlife conflict disincentives, unclear property rights,

3 Page 3 long local traditions of use that are now prohibited and inadequate law enforcement) would benefit from the following guidelines: Diversify product options particularly outside the traditional tourism mind-set localities will have different constraints and different opportunities. In some instances, authorities need to create local markets or bring a distant market closer, Maximize the local value chain incorporating services to support a product (e.g. travel requirements) or adding value to a product (e.g. manufacturing), Create resilience by facilitating opportunities for many associated small business cascades that are linked to a specific wildlife economy project and importantly, to each other, Recognize and use parallel seeding funding or businesses that sustain construction of a wildlife economy business for instance the present donor-based approach across so many localities in Africa should be used as seeding money rather than being support that result in a project being indefinitely dependent on donors, Establish a critical mass of a resource from which products are derived wildlife could be loaned to potential stakeholders for business development for instance, rather than just donated to create critical mass. This establish a different ownership responsibility, Create sustainability using a phased establishment over a medium-term period construction phase, mentor phase, incentive payback phase that leads to business sustainability indefinitely. Incentive payback is not a monetary payback of the wildlife critical mass, but rather a payback of the wildlife loan through illustration of continuous business viability or expansion to other people into the wildlife economy, and Maximize local customs (e.g. most traditional societies live on a time scale of today monthly salaries simply do not fit easily into that frame of mind!) and land-use practices already in place (e.g. using existing knowledge on stock farming). Conduct feasibility assessments that include forecasting on the environmental, social and economic elements of sustainability. CRITERIA APPLICABLE FOR THE LOAN OF WILDLIFE In applying for the loan of wildlife from National Parks, the application is of such nature that;- 1. the application will not compromise the ecological integrity of the park, but instead show that it (a) is an appropriate option to manage wildlife populations to reduce adverse ecological effects on the environment, (b) promotes the survival of endangered species and (c) is a viable option to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. 2. the application is for the purpose of entrepreneurial development towards socioeconomic empowerment in the wildlife management industry.

4 Page 4 3. the application comes from previously disadvantaged individuals as interested emerging black farmers. 4. the application supports individuals in the form of wildlife custodianship agreements to enhance their capacity and expertise required for the entrepreneurial development of the loaned wildlife. 5. the application takes the form of a custodianship whereby the recipient of the wildlife enters into an agreement either to return the loaned animals after an agreed period of time or to donate an agreed number of their offspring, at South African National Parks discretion, to a future applicant. 6. the application confirms the ownership of the loaned wildlife remains with SANParks under a custodianship agreement and where such agreement stipulates ownership of the progeny of the original loaned animal. 7. the application takes into account the (a) particular species in request and the conservation status thereof, (b) suitability of the habitat the animals will be relocated to, (c) socio-economic and historical circumstances of the applicant, (d) potential economic benefit to the applicant and (e) long-term benefit to biodiversity conservation. 8. the application pertains to wildlife species and number of individuals which can be made available without compromising the ecological integrity of the park. 9. the application in which the wildlife species will be of greatest ecological and socioeconomic development benefit will receive preference should two applicants request the same species. 10. the application would show how the property has long-term, legally binding protection, and adequate controls to ensure the integrity of the property. 11. the application would be subject to South African National Parks verifying the ownership of the property. 12. the application would be subject to disease control as prescribed by South African legislation.

5 Page the application would be scrutinised for proximity to a National Park; proximity to a National Park would be considered as an advantage. DECISION-MAKING PROCEDURE FOR THE LOAN OF WILDLIFE (i). The decision-making process associated with which wildlife is loaned, to what degree, and to whom, shall be reasonable, evidence-based, open and participatory and presented in an ordered evaluation format. (ii). The minimum information will be required from the applicant for all requests of wildlife loans before such request is considered for approval. See SANParks Wildlife Loan Application form for the required information. The application form is available at South African National Parks website (iii). The following diagram depicts the application process for the request for the loan of wildlife.

6 Page 6 1. Opportunity identified Request received from individual or company by Wildlife Economy Steering Commitee 2. Compliance check Legally permissible in line with SANParks Wildlife Economy 3. Administration Refer to Expert Panel for technical review 4. State of readiness Feasibility assessment 5. Outcome Generate an integrated recommendation by Wildlife Economy Steering Commitee 6. Approval Sign off on custodianship agreement 7. Implementation Planning Translocation Mentoring (iv). The focal point for all wildlife loans is SANParks Wildlife Steering Committee. All requests for wildlife loans are recorded (including all correspondence) by the Chairperson of the SANParks Wildlife Steering Committee. (v). The SANParks Wildlife Steering Committee will make use of the assistance from the Expert Panel for a technical review of the request for wildlife loan. The Expert Panel is an internal South African National Parks representation appointed by the SANParks Wildlife Steering Committee and comprises representatives from all Divisions with a responsibility in

7 Page 7 strategic planning and operational management of wildlife in National Parks. The Expert Panel is responsible for: advising the Chairperson of the SANParks Wildlife Steering Committee on the interpretation and implementation of the criteria for wildlife loan; sharing scientific and management information pertained to the wildlife specific to the loan request; the technical evaluation of all requests for wildlife loans in accordance to the principles applicable to the loan of wildlife from National Parks. See the various components for assessment as part of the Technical Review (Appendix B); advising the SANParks Wildlife Steering Committee on the outcome of the technical review process, which in turn makes a recommendation to the Chief Executive Officer for consideration and approval. The Board retain the overall accountability for decision-making on all TOPS species. MONITORING AND EVALUATION South African National Parks recognises that good governance is essential and that wildlife loans must adhere to legislative requirements as well as the principles enshrined in the organisation s policies. Consistent monitoring and evaluation processes to mitigate challenges associated with decision-making and the implementation of the criteria for wildlife loans will allow for rigorous scrutiny of South African National Parks wildlife loans. In addition, the type and quantity of the wildlife loaned are recorded annually for inclusion in the South African National Parks Report on the Sustainable Use of Biological Resources, in Compliance with Annual Return to the Minister of the Department of Environmental Affairs in compliance with Section 7 of the NEM:PAA Regulations for the Proper Administration of Special Nature Reserves, National Parks and World Heritage Sites.