Blog

SAWC’s Integrated Approach to Protected Area Integrity

By Scott Yammin, Precious Malapane and Bruce McDonald  University of Kent – Burnett Scholarships for KAZA Ranger Training 2025: Building Capacity for the Future  This year’s KAZA Ranger Training, now in its second year of implementation, brought together 22 participants from Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe for 10 weeks of intensive learning. The programme covered […]

SAWC’s Occupational Programmes: Advancing Conservation Skills

Raising the Bar in Learning and Education  The Southern African Wildlife College’s Learning and Education Department continues to make remarkable strides through its Occupational Programmes Pillar. This pillar is committed to advancing skills, leadership, and excellence, while ensuring that every learning programme it delivers achieves measurable impact.  Central to its mandate is the rollout of […]

Optimising Grazing Practice

Professional herders play a pivotal role in optimising grazing practices through informed, continuous decision-making based on key metrics: timing, duration, intensity, and frequency of grazing. This strategic approach not only enhances pasture productivity but also contributes significantly to soil health and carbon sequestration. Timing of Grazing The selection of appropriate grazing periods throughout the year […]

The Bateleur – Quarter 2 (2025)

As the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) embarks on a transformative journey guided by our newly adopted SAWC Strategy 2030, we’re delighted to unveil a refreshed way of connecting with you. Welcome to The Bateleur, our revitalised newsletter, now a bimonthly publication, that integrates our Wildlife Guardian News newsletter, which further supports our matrix structure. This redesigned newsletter is […]

Shaping Stewards: The SAWC Approach to Leadership in Conservation

At the heart of the Southern African Wildlife College’s (SAWC) Strategy 2030 lies a clearly defined commitment to developing competent, confident, and transformative leaders capable of working across multiple sectors and governance levels to implement sustainable, inclusive conservation practices. Thematic Area 5, Leading and Managing in Conservation, focuses on building leadership capacity to address interconnected […]

Partner Spotlight: Italtile’s Impact on Conservation Leaders

In every issue, we’ll be shining light on one of our partners. In this edition, we’re celebrating Italtile & Ceramic Foundation Trust’s impact on one of our learners.  Conscience Mkansi, hailing from Hluvukani Village, embodies the next generation of conservation changemakers. A former EcoSteward at Wild Impact and a 2024 EcoRanger certificate holder from the […]

Empowering Economies, Enriching Landscapes: The SAWC’s Nature-Based Economy Vision 

By Dr. Thabang Teffo  The Nature-Based Economy (NBE) theme, as outlined in the College’s  Strategy 2030, is rooted in the belief that conservation and livelihoods are not mutually exclusive. This thematic area aims to create sustainable economic opportunities that are directly tied to the stewardship of natural ecosystems. Whether through regenerative rangeland management, ethical wildlife […]

Communities at the Centre: Advancing Conservation Through Participation

The Southern African Wildlife College’s (SAWC) champions participatory models that bridge ecological objectives with social needs. This includes enhancing environmental literacy, supporting nature-positive livelihoods, and building trust between conservation agencies and communities. Key to this work is the Rural Initiative for a Sustainable Environment (RISE) Unit, which facilitates dialogue, skills development, and long-term partnerships.  Moving […]