The depletion of wildlife populations due to illegal trade in Southern Africa, has led to loss of jobs and income opportunities. Additionally, the illegal wildlife trade is exacerbating other forms of transnational organised crime as well as undermining good governance and anti-corruption efforts.
Against this backdrop, the AGA-Africa Programme collaborated with Good Governance Africa (GGA) on a highly engaging training workshop titled ‘Countering the Illegal Wildlife Trade in Southern Africa’ held on 24th-26th October, 2023, in Limpopo, South Africa. This comes after a successful conference convened in Johannesburg, South African in August 2022 which identified areas and opportunities for strengthening to effectively respond to wildlife crime.
The workshop brought together participants drawn from the South African Police (SAPS), the department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), Mozambican National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANUC) who are directly involved in combating cross-border wildlife trade in the borderland region between South Africa and Southern Mozambique.
The workshop was aimed at equipping the participants with best practices and strategies for combating wildlife crime in Southern Africa, as well as build stronger partnerships and improve regional coordination.
Kim Robinson, AGA-Africa Programme Country Coordinator for South Africa, kicked off the workshop with opening remarks followed by Dr. Ross Harvey, Director, Research and Programmes, Good Governance Africa, who delivered the keynote address.
The interactive sessions were facilitated by Dr. Ross Harvey, Director of Research and Programmes, Good Governance Africa, Major General Johan Jooste (Retired), Ashwell Glasson, Registrar, Student Admission and Programme Support, Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), Joe Van Der Walt, Director, Focus Group Africa, Dr. Joseph Okori, Executive Manager, Business Operations, Southern African Wildlife College, Stephen-Buchanan-Clarke, Head of Programme; Human Security and Climate Change, Good Governance Africa, Ashleigh Dore, Project Manager, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Advocate Abednego Mgiba, Regional Court Prosecutor Skukuza, Leitah Mkhabela, Supervisor, Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit, Naomi Haupt, Environmental Anthropologist, University of the Free State, Sharon Haussmann, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation, Alistair Nelson, Managing Director, Conservation Synergies, Matt Lindenberg, Founder & Executive Director, Global Conservation Corps, Mbhonni Mzamani, Community Liaison Officer, Global Conservation Corps and Christian Jokinen, Regional CT and Security Expert, Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Mozambique.
Kim Robinson gave closing remarks, officially bringing the workshop to a close.
Workshop Outcome
Through this workshop the participants:
- Were equipped with skills and knowledge on developing comprehensive strategies to address the complex challenges of the International Wildlife Trade in the Southern Africa region.
- Enhanced their understanding on strengthening legal frameworks, such as wildlife protection laws and penalties as an important component in the fight against wildlife crime.
- Gained insights on the emerging trends of wildlife crime and building organisational individual resilience to the drivers of ranger corruption in National Parks.
