By Scott Yammin, Precious Malapane, Bruce McDonald and Peter Hamming Protecting natural landscapes requires more than traditional law enforcement. It demands a holistic approach that integrates compliance, resilience, technology, and collaboration. At the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), this integrated model continues to strengthen protected area integrity through targeted training, operational support, and innovation across multiple units. Strengthening Environmental Compliance A key...Read More
By Ronan Carvill Frogs are an often overlooked and undervalued category of biodiversity, but with the visit of the leading Anuran (frog and toad) scientist in Southern Africa, Dr Jeanne Tarrant, they became the centre of attention. The Diploma students got a week-long crash course in all things froggy. Frogs tend to have a slightly negative reputation...Read More
By Fortunate Mathonsi, Christopher Kafoteka & Kudakwashe MusengiThe Student Administration and Programme Support (SPS) department has experienced a tremendous level of activity during the first quarter as we welcomed our long-course students to the campus. The team worked diligently to ensure prompt registrations, preventing any loss of valuable classroom time. To date, 126 students have...Read More
At the College, leadership is not reserved for those at the top – it is nurtured at every level. Now in its third year, the Junior Leaders Programme has become a catalyst for innovation and internal transformation, answering an important question: how can junior staff shape the future of the College today? What began in 2023...Read More
By: Pieter NelIn the modern conservation discourse, biodiversity loss is too often treated as a passive consequence of external pressures — urban encroachment, climate change, or human presence. Yet, biodiversity is not a static condition of pristine wilderness, but a dynamic outcome of processes that include disturbance, regeneration, and trophic interactions. Nowhere is this more...Read More
By Dr. Thabang Teffo In the first year of implementing the new Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) Strategy 2030 plan, the Nature-Based Economy (NBE) thematic area demonstrated strong leadership and steady growth throughout 2025. The year reinforced the SAWC’s role as a regional training institution for the responsible use of natural resources, regenerative land management, and...Read More
Written by Sboniso Ryan Phakathi Between September and December 2025, the Community-Led Conservation Practices thematic area continued to strengthen the connection between conservation outcomes and community wellbeing. Through reflective learning programmes, youth development initiatives, and livelihood-linked conservation projects, the Southern African Wildlife College reinforced its commitment to inclusive, ethical, and people-centred conservation across the Greater Kruger...Read More
By Scott Yammin, Precious Malapane and Bruce McDonald Protecting Africa’s wildlife requires far more than enforcement alone. It demands skilled, resilient people, well-trained canine units, and reliable aerial support working together on the frontline. At the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), the Protected Area Integrity: Beyond Law Enforcement thematic area continues to strengthen this integrated approach,...Read More
By Cliford Nxumalo, Research Assistant: Conservation Science In October and November 2025, Professor Alan Gardiner and I from the Conservation Science thematic area, together with ethnobotanist Tony Cunningham and field assistant Shabani, undertook a biodiversity sampling trip to Angola. Our primary objective was to collect endemic butterflies and conduct Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) biodiversity sampling. This was...Read More
By Dr Kudakwashe Musengi Over two action-packed weeks, our Natural Resource Management Diploma students stepped out of the online classroom and into the real world of conservation, community engagement, and environmental education. These practical activities formed a vital part of their experiential learning, giving them the opportunity to apply their knowledge, develop leadership skills, and experience...Read More
