Trophy hunting and its benefit to the biodiversity economy

Lester Kiewit speaks to Hayley Clements, Senior Researcher, African Wildlife Economy Institute and Centre for Sustainability Transitions, Stellenbosch University, about the strides that can be made as South Africa’s government amends its biodiversity economy plan.

We're being asked to comment on government's revised national biodiversity economy strategy.

The aim of the plan is to "conserve biodiversity while also contributing to job creation and economic growth."

The revision of the existing strategy is to bring it more in line with global policy developments in the biodiversity sphere.

Government wants to achieve the plan by encouraging sustainable ways to use the country's natural resources.

Hayley Clements is one of a group of local scientists who says the revised strategy is a step in the right direction:

"South Africa has always been a leader in this space, recognising that biodiversity doesn't only need to be set aside in protected areas that cost taxpayers a lot of money, it can actually be sustainably utilised in ways that contribute to jobs and to the economy."

Hayley Clements, Senior Researcher, African Wildlife Economy Institute and Centre for Sustainability Transitions - Stellenbosch University

But in her recent article in The Conversation, Clements says the revisions have faced some criticism, specifically for using biodiversity to make money.

For example, the strategy lists using wildlife for fair-chase trophy hunting, meat hunting and wild meat sales.

"The reason we have so much land under conservation is because hunting a very small portion of that population generates a lot of revenue that encourages landowners to conserve wildlife instead of ploughing up the land."

Hayley Clements, Senior Researcher, African Wildlife Economy Institute and Centre for Sustainability Transitions - Stellenbosch University

Clements says that in a country like South Africa, trophy hunting actually contributes to conservation.

"If people have this strong moral aversion to it, then we really need to think seriously about what alternative could replace or contribute to such an economy."

Hayley Clements, Senior Researcher, African Wildlife Economy Institute and Centre for Sustainability Transitions - Stellenbosch University

Click here to comment view the revised strategy:

Members of the public are invited to submit written comments to any of the following addresses:

By post to: 
The Director-General: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Attention: 
Mr Khorommbi Matibe 
Private Bag X447 PRETORIA 0001 

By hand at:  Environment House, 
473 Steve Biko Street, 
Arcadia, 
Pretoria, 
0001 

By e-mail to: 
kmatibe@dffe.gov.za