South African National Parks (SANParks) was very aware of the need to ensure it delivered economic benefits for the local communities around its protected conservation areas. This was internationally recognised as a necessity to ensure that conservation strategies were effective, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy highlighted in a speech on Thursday. She was speaking at a ceremony at which mining giant Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) donated four Bat Hawk aircraft to SANParks for anti-poaching missions in the world-renowned Kruger National Park.

She pointed out that, out of more than 6 100 people employed by SANParks and its concessionaires, 80% had been recruited from communities which neighboured the country’s national parks. SANParks’ expanded public work programme had, in addition, created 13 650 work opportunities last year. The agency had also bought services and goods from more than 800 small businesses.

“Earlier this year in an effort to further expand the economic opportunities in our national parks, SANParks hosted an investment conference where over 100 projects were launched for public-private partnerships for, amongst others, accommodation, retail activities and restaurants in our national parks,” she reported. “This model also includes setting aside a minimum of 10% share equity for land claimants, as well as creating preferential procurement opportunities for local communities and provision of the much-needed jobs. We understand local community beneficiation as the only long-term sustainable approach to conservation.”

The Bat Hawks were primarily (but not exclusively) intended to counter rhino poaching. Designed and built in South Africa and intended for operations in the bush, they were classified as ‘light sports aircraft’ and were more economical than helicopters. The value of the Amplats sponsorship of the four aircraft came to more than R3.8-million. “This is a much-appreciated gesture, that allows us to add another weapon to our arsenal to prevent poaching and to monitor our ecosystem,” affirmed Creecy.

She pointed out that, over the past 15 years, the Kruger National Park had borne the brunt of the rhino-poaching scourge. But the different authorities and bodies (national and provincial, conservation and law enforcement, public and private) had developed a much more integrated and proactive approach to countering it. Joint teams, consolidated information, national-level analysis support, with a focus on intelligence-led integrated investigations, were making a significant impact.

During the first half of this year, 69 people had been arrested for rhino poaching and trafficking rhino horns. Another four people had been arrested in the same period for trying to smuggle rhino horns out of South Africa. So far this year, 51 people had been convicted for rhino poaching and related offences, with the heaviest sentence of imprisonment being 34 years, while two others received sentences of 28 years each.

“I want today to end by paying tribute once again to the courage and dedication of our ranger service,” stressed Creecy. “These men and women are in the frontline of the battle against organised wildlife criminal syndicates and have on occasion paid the supreme price for their dedication.”