In 2022, Conserv Earth’s focus was to work with the Waterberg Landscape Alliance (WLA) and their ANPR technology network to restrict and combat poaching and security violations in the whole Waterberg biosphere. To provide a brief update, this network is proving to be instrumental for combating the poaching and their current focus is therefore to maintain, upgrade and fill in the gaps for the camera network, which needs significant funds, but overall has been one of the most cost-effective strategies that have been implemented in the country. Specifically, for rhino populations, this has proven to be immensely effective, and the network works within the entire region involving all stakeholders and landowners. The WLA has produced an update focusing on the following outcomes.
- To expand the organisation’s focus to include landscape level conservation. A detailed strategy document defining our purpose, establishing a distinct identity, together with a logo and brand has been published.
- Securing the region as a critical and important biodiversity area, that is able to contribute to both national and international biodiversity obligations and aspirations. Landscape conservation approach is being identified as one of the best models for biodiversity conservation due to its holistic approach.
- The Waterberg has huge potential for the current international obligation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to conserve 30% of land and sea by 2030 (known as the 30 x 30 deal for nature). Furthermore, the Savanna biome has been recognised as the most vulnerable biome in South Africa to climate change. The Waterberg provides an opportunity to secure this area not only to benefit local wildlife and people, but also biodiversity obligations to secure life support systems that are relevant on global scale.
- Landscape conservation allows for a more systematic, connected approach to conservation than single species approaches. Landscape Conservation is integral to protecting species such as our rhino, African wild dogs and pangolin, as it secures the habitats they require and creates landscape connectivity for dispersal, migration and genetic flow processes.The Waterberg is historically an important area for rhino conservation. This importance has only increased exponentially, as both Kruger and Kwa-Zulu Natal rhino populations have been decimated by poaching. There are two reasons for this. One, the area has a low human population, few roads and a huge amount of land invested in conservation (contiguous conservation zone of more than 3 million hectares – as game farms and reserves). Secondly, the Waterberg security situation is in a good space with crime generally being kept in check. There has been a very systematic, well planned and coordinated program with continual interventions that have proven successful in deterring criminal networks and this has made it possible to protect many of the rhinos even in the face of persistent rhino poaching.
The below map shows the WLA’s support and operational area, referred to as our ‘area of influence’ is more than 3.4 million ha (the size of The Netherlands). This is the area we actively support (where funds are spent) as well as where most of our stakeholders operate. The eight clusters that form the basis of the cooperative security network fall within this area.
