Your opportunity to make a real impact is here! The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment has just released the Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for Black and White Rhinos. This critical plan aims to protect and grow our rhino populations through strategic management and conservation efforts.
Rhino populations in South Africa have been devastated by poaching and habitat loss. Poachers target rhinos for their horns, which are ground into powder and sold in some Asian markets as a supposed cure for various ailments. This illegal trade has drastically reduced rhino numbers, threatening the survival of these iconic animals.
The decline in rhino populations affects ecosystems, biodiversity, and local communities that rely on tourism and conservation for their livelihoods. Rhinos are also a crucial part of South Africa’s natural heritage and cultural identity. Losing them would be a significant blow to national pride and ecological balance.
The BMP applies across all regions in South Africa where black and white rhinos are found. It outlines strategies for managing a secure and expanding meta-population of rhinos, promoting conservation, and benefiting society through sustainable use. The plan includes legislative context, species details, objectives, and an implementation framework. Public comments are invited within 30 days of its publication, with the final plan set to replace previous management plans.
Key Features of the BMP:
Vision and Goal: Manage a viable, secure, and expanding national meta-population of black and white rhinos, contributing to biodiversity, societal values, and transformation through inclusive ownership and broad benefaction.
Primary Objectives: Focus on effective biological management, strengthening enforcement and security, advancing community empowerment, managing demand for rhino derivatives, and enhancing legislative implementation and responsive policy.
Stakeholder Engagement: Over 700 representatives from communities, rhino owners, NGOs, specialists, and government officials contributed through extensive consultations.
Enabling Conditions: Emphasise sustainable financing, effective communication, leveraging technology, innovation, and capacity building.
Implementation and Monitoring: Establish a National Rhino Coordination Committee to guide decision-making, build trust, and oversee the implementation and annual reporting of the BMP. The plan also serves as a species recovery strategy, addressing poaching, meta-population management, and re-wilding initiatives.
We invite all South Africans to participate in this vital initiative by providing your feedback and ideas on the BMP. Your input will play a crucial role in finalising a plan that will make a significant difference for our rhinos and our nation.
Deadline for Comments: 18 July 2024
Read the full plan and share your feedback here. Together, we can ensure a future where rhinos thrive in South Africa, safeguarding our natural heritage for generations to come.
