MAPHELANE – The iSimangaliso Authority in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), together with a consortium of partners, will implement a large-scale community conservation awareness and rhino protection programme.

This initiative includes 75 schools and more than 11 250 learners from around the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. “iSimangaliso My Rhino, Our Future”, specifically targets youth in the protection of rhinos and other iconic and endangered species in iSimangaliso and South Africa.

The chief executive officer (CEO) of the African Conservation Trust, Mr Francois du Toit, endorses this project, “We cannot sustain or conserve South Africa’s resources nor alleviate the current environmental crises we face without the participation of the very people affected. A community-based awareness programme like this engages local communities by giving them a platform to discuss conservation issues.”

It also enables youngsters to take pride in and ownership of South Africa’s first World Heritage Site. In 2001 former president Nelson Mandela said, “iSimangaliso must be the only place on the globe where the oldest land mammal, the rhinoceros, and the world’s biggest terrestrial mammal, the elephant, share an ecosystem with the world’s oldest fish, the coelacanth, and the world’s biggest marine mammal, the whale”.

The minister of environmental affairs, Ms Edna Molewa says, “We have long acknowledged that the fight against rhino poaching cannot be won alone. We are especially proud to partner with iSimangaliso as part of a consortium of environmental organisations rooting an innovative anti-poaching initiative deep in the communities of northern KZN, and, in particular, turning a new generation of learners into conservation ambassadors. It’s only through this combined, community-based effort that we will be able to rid South Africa of this scourge.”

• In Rhino Art, which is part of the iSimangaliso My Rhino, Our Future programme, the universal languages of art, drama and song, that transcend language barriers, was completed on August 28, where learners from the 75 schools all used pieces of art to send their messages of support for conservation and express their feelings about rhino poaching. These works have been curated into a powerful visual message that will cross the seas to other nations. Playing an integral role in the Rhino Art project was the Kingsley Holgate Foundation. “We cannot win the war against rhino poaching if we don’t involve the communities living alongside the reserves, no more so than the 220 km long iSimangaliso,” comments Kingsley Holgate. “We need to be conscious of their concerns and include communities in conservation activities”.
• The Rhino Walk will take place from September 7 to October 2nd. Learners, principals and educators will walk with conservation agencies, traditional leadership and local, provincial and national government, the 220km from Maphelane to Kosi Bay. Much like an olympic event, a torch will be carried from school to school. It will include a celebratory event on World Rhino Day, the 22nd September, which will turn the spotlight on the youth’s commitment to conservation. Learners, educators, community leaders, government and conservation organisations will come together and symbolically join hands as a united front in the fight against poaching and our combined efforts to tackle the greatest threat to this iconic population, human greed.

The CEO of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Mr Andrew Zaloumis, added that, “We have an established developmental partnership with these schools.

The aim of this environmental awareness and rhino protection intervention is to nurture a generation of wildlife ambassadors and leaders who are committed to all threatened species, big and small, in the eco-system, biodiversity, and incredible beauty of the region where we live. We will only achieve long term success in stopping rhino poaching if we have the support of conservation-minded local communities and most importantly, the next generation.”

And the ambitious scale of the project is no accident. “Critical mass is key to beating this epidemic,” says Sheelagh Antrobus, Coordinator of Project Rhino KZN, an 18-member conservation association that represents provincial, private and NGO stakeholders in the province. “We are aware that the poaching of rhino is symptomatic of the overall, bigger environmental crises facing South African parks and its neighbours and recognise that the work in conserving and protecting rhinos in iSimangaliso from the threat of poaching is symbolic of the broader threat faced by all wildlife. Broad-based community conservation awareness plays a vital role in eliminating South Africa’s current poaching crisis”.

The CEO of Peace Parks Foundation, Mr Werner Myburgh,echoed the critical influence that the voice of the younger generation can have in affecting change. “As part of our Rhino Protection Programme, Peace Parks Foundation recently engaged youth from Vietnam in a demand reduction awareness programme.

These youngsters returned to their home country with a fervour and determination to transform the behaviour of their communities towards conservation – reminding us again to never underestimate our youth. We are proud to be part of the iSimangaliso programme, which will surely ignite the same passion and resolve in the youth of South Africa.”

iSimangaliso’s conservation partner, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s CEO, Dr David Mabunda says, “We are excited to be part of this project as it will complement Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s enforcement efforts with iSimangaliso and our nearby parks like Hluhluwe-iMfolozi on the ground by building a critical mass of people in the area who believe in conservation.”

For more information or to join the Rhino Walk, please contact the iSimangaliso media officer, Siyabonga Mhlongo at siyabonga@isimangaliso.com or on 084-382-0884.