Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Recreational hunting and livelihoods
IN SUB-SAHARAN Africa, almost 1400 000km² of land spread across many countries – from Kenya to South Africa – is dedicated to
“trophy” (recreational) hunting. This type of hunting can occur on communal, private, and state lands.
The hunters – mainly foreign “tourists” from North America and Europe – target a wide variety of species, including lions, leopards, antelopes, buffalo, elephants, zebras, hippopotamus and giraffes.
Debates centred on the role of recreational hunting in supporting nature conservation and local people’s livelihoods are among the most polarising in conservation today.
On one hand, people argue that recreational hunting generates funding that can support livelihoods and nature conservation. It’s estimated to generate $200 million (R3bn) annually in sub-Saharan Africa, although others dispute the magnitude of this contribution.
On the other hand, hunting is heavily criticised on ethical and moral grounds and as a
potential threat to some species.
Evidence for taking a particular side in the debate is still unfortunately thin. In our recently published research, we reviewed the large body of scientific literature on recreational hunting from around the world, which meant we read and analysed more than 1000 peer-reviewed papers.
We used this vast body of information to summarise the diverse implications of hunting for nature conservation and the livelihoods of people.
We found that studies quantified the revenues generated by hunting, but they often stopped short of determining on how these revenues benefited conservation and local people.
Likewise, there is only a little research documenting the effectiveness of recreational hunting areas for conserving ecosystems, and who really benefits from the revenues generated.
A lot of the research we examined focuses on how hunting affects a particular species. The most-studied species are large mammals from North America, Europe, and Africa – such as red deer, white-tailed deer, wild boar, moose, and lions. Of these, only the lion is of conservation concern.
The impacts on the populations targeted by hunters varied among species. For example, red deer hunting appears to be sustainable, while there is evidence that reindeer hunting has caused some populations to decline. Hunting did not cause population declines in studies of 17 African hoofed mammal species, with only eland declining due to hunting.
Evidence shows that while lion hunting is well-regulated and sustainable in some places – such as Niassa National Reserve in Mozambique – in other places it is detrimental to local populations. For example, the lion population in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park declined from 125 lions in 2009 to 94 in 2012. Trophy hunting was the leading cause of death, with 46 males harvested. These declines resulted in a trophy hunting ban in 2013.
Hunting has also negatively affected carnivores elsewhere in the world. For example, puma (cougar) populations in North America and brown bears in Europe.
Unfortunately, we also found that while the literature is extensive, there were biases toward certain continents and either “charismatic” species, or species that are not under imminent threat of extinction.
Recreational hunting was particularly important in areas where ecotourism was not a viable alternative because of a lack of infrastructure, rare wildlife, or a dearth of spectacular scenery, such as much of the Northern Conservation Zone in Botswana.
In West and Central Africa, there are various constraints to the revenue that trophy hunting can generate. Even though the literature on recreational hunting is extensive, research must be extended towards less-charismatic species and to all continents where recreational hunting happens. For example, we need a lot more evidence to support or debunk some claims that hunting increases the quantity and quality of conservation interventions.
Likewise, there is still only limited research addressing questions pertaining to the sustainability of recreational hunting, who benefits from it, and how local people feel about it. Assessing the role of recreational hunting in diverse contexts is essential to develop equitable ecosystem conservation and restoration practices, while simultaneously contributing to the livelihoods and aligning with the values of local people. | The Conversation
A YOUNG Cape Town girl’s dream of building and flying a plane has been turned into a book.
Megan Werner was part of the U-Dream Global Project Cape To Cairo, where they built and flew an aeroplane from Cape Town to Cairo in Egypt.
The author of the Afrikaans book called translated to
Daniella van Heerden.
“The book is based on a young girl’s adventure and the amazing adventure she went on,” she said.
Van
Heerden said Werner came from a family of pilots and her love for aeroplanes came at a very young age. She said the young pilots built the plane from scratch and flew it to Cairo.
“It was amazing that young teenagers built an aeroplane and flew it, and so we took this adventure and made it into a story book that children can read,” she said.
She said it was something that had never been done before and they thought it should not just end in them going on this adventure but that it should have a lasting impact.
A narrative non-fiction book,
Van Heerden said it’s based on a true story but written in the style of a story book.
“It is aimed at young readers that can read Afrikaans and they will enjoy it because it is based on a true story, which is aimed at inspiring,” she said.
Van Heerden said Werner’s dream is to inspire the youth of South Africa and show them that if you believe it, you can do it, because she was teased at school for dreaming of building an aeroplane and flying it but she did.She said another important fact which is in the book is the fact that Werner’s father who was on their supporting aeroplane died after it crashed during the adventure.
As Jy Droom,
If You Dream,
is
GRASSROOTS Preparatory has caught the attention of locals and educators alike, being one of the few schools in the Western Cape to have a no-homework policy.
Founded by Dr Rebecca Felix and her brother David Martin, the Independent school is based on a Finnish-approach curriculum.
“When my brother and I started the school and were in the research phases, we looked at various educational curricula across the world and the one that stood out is the Finnish approach,” said Felix.
Finland’s education system is world-renowned for being one of the best. The co-founders travelled to Finland to observe the schooling system.
“One of the things that stand out in Finnish schools is that they don’t have any homework – at best, children are given minimal homework.”
Felix said that South Africans often overload children with work from such a young age, causing them to crack.
“Playing is an essential part of brain development for a child. Children learn from playing. We encourage our children to play, enjoy sports and attend extramural activities. Children must be children.”
Boudine Benn, an educator at the school, said that children who live a well-rounded life excel at school.
“Parents, especially, love this policy, because it’s practical; they have to work full time, they don’t have to help the kids with extra school work,”
said Benn.
She highlighted the importance of interactive teaching and said that having two different styles of teaching from different people at different skills levels could cause confusion.
The aim of this method of schooling is for children to enjoy a wellrounded life – having schooling in the morning, but enjoying children activities in the afternoon.
“Education is an aspect of our lives, just like family time, just like exercise time is an aspect.”
Eight-year-old Giorgia Fisher, a Grade 1 pupil at Grassroots, was more than eager to share how she spends her afternoons: “When I get home, I play soccer with my daddy.”
Based on academic results and positive feedback from parents, the children at Grassroots Preparatory are thriving.
Akifah Blakeley, mother of a Grade 3 pupil at the school, finds the no-homework policy working well for her daughter.
“School is hard, children are forced to wear uniforms, come home tired and have to use brain power. It’s not productive. My child has the opportunity to be a child after school and play,” said the mother.