South Africa comes under stinging critique from conservation organizations

8 February 2017 | Government Gazette | Department of Environmental Affairs |

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS NOTICE 74 OF 2017 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BIODIVERSITY ACT 2004 (ACTO NO. 10 OF 2004) DRAFT REGULATIONS FOR THE DOMESTIC TRADE IN RHINOCEROS HORN, OR A PART, PRODUCT OR DERIVATIVE OF RHINOCEROS HORN I, Bomo Edith Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, hereby give notice of my intention to make regulations … Full Story ?

20 February 2017 | SA Breaking News | Adam Cruise | Free to publish credit CAT

The fate of South Africa’s rhinos continue to hang in the balance as the South African government dithers over releasing rhino poaching statistics. Three times in as many days,the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) have postponed a scheduled media briefing of the rhino poaching information. In response to concerns raised previously over the Minister of … Full Story ?

21 February 2017 | Daily Maverick | Don Pinnock | Free to publish credit CAT

Photo by Don Pinnock. There’s a thin line between the marketing of, and the genuine conservation of, wildlife. In the past few weeks that line was definitively crossed by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs. Ignoring the findings of environmental organisations, its contractual compliance with CITES, a worldwide online petition and its own strategic … Full Story ?

17 February 2017 | Lowvelder | Elize Parker |

Activists are asking the Minister of Environmental Affairs for a moratorium on the shooting of baboons in the plantations around Sabie. We are not contravening the protocol said roleplayers in the timber industry.  SABIE – Baboon activists and role players in the timber industry have seemingly reached an impasse in finding a solution to the … Full Story ?

10 February 2017 | Beeld | Elise Tempelhoff  |

Minister onverskillig en slu, sê drukgroepe Enigiemand sal voortaan twee renosterhorings “vir persoonlike doeleindes” mag landuit neem as voorgenome regulasies van die regering wet word. Bewaringsorganisasies het met skok gereageer op dié plan wat Edna Molewa, minister van omgewingsake, Woensdag in die Staatskoerant aangekondig het. Hulle sê dit maak die deur “wawyd” oop vir renosterboere … Full Story ?

February 2017 | | Ian Michler |

At the CITES CoP17 held in South Africa during September/October 2016, it was clear that the vast majority of member states were against legalizing trade in rhino horn. The proposal put forward by Swaziland, a move many felt was a proxy proposal on behalf of South Africa’s pro-trade lobby, was overwhelmingly defeated with the votes … Full Story ?

16 February 2017 | Southern African Tourism Update | Reporter |

Singita, &Beyond, and Great Plains Conservation are among the safari companies that are urging government not to allow any trade in lion bones. Safari companies, including Singita, &Beyond, and Great Plains Conservation, have taken a stand against the recent announcement by the South African government that a quota of 800 skeletons of captive-bred lions would … Full Story ?