Ecological Literacy Webinars
Under the Dallas Safari Club Foundation (DSCF) grant, the Responsible Resource Management department rolled out a workshop series comprising four webinars conducted over four days. These sessions focused on two short courses: Decision Making and Ecological Literacy. The webinars were facilitated by Sarah Savory, a Holistic Management Consultant, educator, and daughter of the renowned ecologist Allan Savory, who developed the Holistic Management Framework. Sarah is recognised as an expert in Natural Resource Management and Holistic Landscape Management.
The webinars were held on 25 – 26 September and 16 – 17 October 2024 and were recorded to ensure broader accessibility. The recordings were made available to the general public. If you would like to watch them, please click the buttons below.
This initiative aimed to enhance ecological literacy and decision-making capabilities, fostering a deeper understanding and stewardship of natural resources through context-specific learning opportunities.
African Wildlife Economy Colloquium
The SAWC played a key role as an organising partner of the African Wildlife Economy Colloquium, held at Stellenbosch University from 4 to 6 November. Dr Thabang Teffo, the Head of the Responsible Resource Management department, participated actively, delivering a presentation and moderating two special panel discussions on the Ethics of Hunting and the Governance of Wildlife Economies. These discussions contributed to critical dialogues about sustainable and ethical practices in wildlife management.
Weekly online meetings between RRM, Southern African Development Community (SADC) officials, and project partners (African Leadership University and African Wildlife Economy Institute) continue to drive progress on the SADC Wildlife-Based Economy Strategy Framework, ensuring coordination and effective implementation of shared goals.
The SAWC Herding Academy Developments
The SAWC Herding Academy made significant strides this quarter, with two notable accomplishments:
- Footprint Dashboard Development: Work is underway to create a dashboard showcasing the impact of the Herding for Health (H4H) capacity-building efforts since the programme’s inception. This tool will be presented at the H4H Indaba in Maputo, Mozambique, scheduled for 27 to 30 January 2025, and shared with SADC partners.
- Professional Herding Training in Botswana: A senior trainer from the Herding Academy delivered a successful training programme for 25 professional herders in collaboration with WildCAT.
Global Engagements and Professional Development
The RRM department proudly represented the College at the 10th International Ranger Federation World Ranger Congress in France. Pieter Nel, an H4H practitioner, participated alongside global conservation leaders, addressing challenges faced by rangers and advancing discussions on community-led landscape management, biodiversity, and inclusiveness. Following the congress, Pieter completed a 10-day Herding for Health Implementation Manager course, enhancing his expertise in governance and resource management.
A key highlight of the congress was the focus on frameworks like the Herding for Health programme, which supports biodiversity and promotes conservation in communal areas, aligning with the global 30×30 targets. Special emphasis was placed on empowering women rangers through initiatives like The Lady Ranger Programme, fostering a worldwide support network. The SAWC extends its gratitude to Conservation International for making Pieter’s attendance possible and showcasing the College’s holistic approach to conservation training on the world stage.
From 24 – 26 November, Dr Thabang Teffo attended the Custodians of Professional Hunting & Conservation South Africa, where he delivered a keynote address focusing on the importance of capacity building to enable participation in the upcoming implementation of the SADC Wildlife-based Economy and the South African National Biodiversity Economy (NBES).
CONSERVATION GROUP PROGRAMMES
By Scott Yammin – University Programme and Field Coordinator
We recently welcomed two groups as part of the conservation group programme. The Good Work Foundation participated in guide training and assessments hosted by the College’s Responsible Resource Management department. The Wild Again group visited us to learn about the College’s conservation projects and engaged with the Nourish Eco Village. The department also facilitated game drives and hosted donors from KfW Stiftung and Peace Parks Foundation, whilst also supporting a game drive for the SAWC’s Board of Directors during the graduation period.