Game Ranching and Biodiversity Conservation: Encouraging a mutually beneficial partnership. Jeanetta Selier

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1 Game Ranching and Biodiversity Conservation: Encouraging a mutually beneficial partnership Jeanetta Selier

2 Introduction Wildlife ranching industry is characterised by an interesting combination of agriculture, eco- tourism & conservation characteristics. We need to step up our efforts to utilise our biodiversity sustainably and economically to support livelihoods of all South Africans including present and future generations Minister Molewa

3 Introduction Complex multifaceted commercial sector Operations along a continuum from intensive to extensive management practices land under wildlife land use, private and communal area far outweighs area under state control Challenges: Current contribution to biodiversity conservation not known Contributions to biodiversity conservation are not secure Not able to measure contribution

4 Biodiversity Economy Wildlife lab The lack of a certification scheme has resulted in the preponderance of a number of activities that are harmful either to the reputation of the wildlife industry or to the preservation of the resource base that underpins it. A certification scheme will reduce the damage caused by such activities in the following ways: Will incentivise good practice & reward these through economic gain; Will maintain & enhance the value of the wildlife economy by giving product assurance to consumers; Will help improve reputation (both domestically & internationally) & reduce revenue loss as a result of reputational damage Will facilitate sustainability of the resource base &, therefore, the sustainability of the wildlife economy; Will reduce negative impacts on ecosystems services; Will help the government track biodiversity outcomes; Will help to contribute towards national biodiversity targets; Will enable the conservation agencies to direct & focus their efforts & regulate in partnership with the wildlife industry; Will create a vital platform for transformation of the wildlife industry, enable land restituted & other rural communities to enter into & compete economically with established private entities.

5 Other certification schemes Nearly 500 eco-labels in 199 countries and 25 industry sectors WESSA Blue flag beaches, boats & Marine programme Forestry Stewardship Council Marine sustainability Council SASSI Fairtrade (Responsible tourism label) Wine and Biodiversity Initiative FairWild IUCN Greenlist

6 Progress up to date Concept document developed On 27 November, 2017 a stakeholder workshop was held with the following objectives: to provide the workshop participants with information on current and relevant certification schemes through a number of presentations & to establish a working group & task teams that will be responsible for driving the development of the certification scheme 27 participants from 16 organisations

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8 Certification scheme must Be industry driven Be voluntary Be affordable & practical Linked to international standard-setting bodies & relevant sector organizations Buy in of all stakeholders Leverage an existing market Build on effective monitoring & adaptive strategies Landscape level approach

9 Vision.. To promote and demonstrate voluntary stakeholder contributions to the biodiversity economy through responsible and sustainable natural resource management for the benefit of the people of South Africa and the environment

10 Principles/values Evaluates the environmental contribution of the Wildlife sector to biodiversity conservation That is socially responsible Economically sustainable Safeguard & promote South Africa s reputation

11 Certification scheme structure Champion: Dr Andrew Taylor Alex Marsh Magdel Boshoff Champion: Chris Galliers Roland Vorwerk Lizanne Nel Adri Kitshoff- Botha Jeanetta Selier Magdel Boshoff

12 Credibility principles

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14 Environmental criteria Based on the following principles: Management units are large enough for the primary landscape processes which determine the structure & function of the system to continue to function; Management aims to restore and maintain the primary ecological processes which are the primary determinants of the structure &function of the system; Management aims to restore and maintain the naturally occurring species composition of communities comprising viable populations of each species; Management aims to restore and maintain genetic integrity of populations (heterozygosity and pure lineages are retained, inbreeding and outbreeding depression, and hybridisation is minimised).

15 Way forward Development of standards & Criteria Develop scoring Are there any obviously attractive benefits? Who should be involved in in the development of such a system, & how to fund it? Who needs to endorse it? Who & how should it be implemented?

16 Questions? Dr Jeanetta Selier