May 2006
Volume 4, Issue No 3
1 From the Editor's Desk

In this issue of African Indaba we continue the discussion about hunting inside protected areas with an article by Cleve Cheney, a former Kruger Park Ranger, and the statement of the Game Rangers' Association of Africa. With the contributions in earlier issues we are moving towards a broad-based dialogue.

There are questions regarding what to do with proliferating game populations on finite land and my article on the last page, "Development of Game Prices in South Africa", highlights some concerns. There is also the burning issue of funding African protected areas in view of other important national issues like poverty relief and empowerment of disadvantaged Africans who live next to protected areas. Most importantly, we have to recognize that government funds are scarce and much more needed for instance for pressing health issues like the HIV pandemic.

I have made already some proposals in " Hunting in South Africa: Facts, Risks, Opportunities" especially with regards to broad based black economic empowerment and how incentive-driven-conservation can assist including the majority of South Africans into the future of biodiversity conservation.

A number of voices from the hunting community will certainly claim that hunting within protected areas and selling live game originating from there constitutes unfair competition for the private game and hunting industries. There will also be outcries from many quarters claiming the "sacrosanct" status our protected areas. Many ecotourism stakeholders will protest, citing their perception of a range of global repercussions. But the problems cannot be wished away - we do not live in a utopian paradise where the lion sleeps next to the lamb.

We need to be pragmatic and veer from single-minded or single-species preservationist objectives towards a comprehensive triple-bottom-line conservation approach tackling the complicated array of social, economic and ecological issues. Look at Namibia’s northeastern Caprivi Region and the protected areas of Bwabwata, Mudumu and Mamili. Trophy hunting has played an important income-generating role there, but during the past two years the program has been put on ice unnecessarily. However, according to reports received only days ago, hunting is to resume in August. There are other examples from Europe - for instance Germany, France, Spain and Switzerland were conservation hunting plays its role inside protected areas.

The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) could be a partner in the search for solutions and I intend to bring this topic to the attention of the delegates during the CIC General Assembly in Cyprus in the first week of May. The " Draft Regulations on Threatened and Protected species and Draft Norms and Standards for the regula tion of the hunting industry” which the South African Department of Environmental Affairs&

Tourism will present on May 2 nd will certainly also be discussed there..

Venison or game meat is still a largely underdeveloped, and more often than not an undeveloped, resource. Be it as low-cost protein supply, for instance from elephant culls, for those living in and around protected areas, or as an income and employment generating industry on private land. The wholesome qualities of venison, its proper preparation and acceptance on the table and its importance in providing food security still leave opportunities to explore. African Indaba has published a couple of topical articles by Dr L Hoffman ( University of Stellenbosch) and Dr D Lewis (WCS) already in 2003. There are other important lessons to be learned from Germany, were more than 1.7 million ungulates (roe, deer, wild boar, etc.) are harvested every year by the country’s 330,000 hunters. This venison finds its way into tasty dishes on the tables in private households and restaurants.

In this African Indaba, readers will find for the first time articles about falconry, one of the oldest and most traditional forms of hunting, and about the conservation and sustainable use of the sandgrouse. Especially the sandgrouse article by AGRED Director Dr Aldo Berruti coincides nicely with the topic “Conservation of Migratory Birds: A Shared Responsibility” which will

occupy the delegates at the CIC g