The value of natural beauty – How wildlife conservation contributes to SA’s struggling economy
When it comes to wildlife, our beautiful country is blessed beyond compare – and it pays to manage these resources well.
According to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), the wildlife economy can be defined as,
[T]he economy that drives rural development and prosperity through the sustainable use of wildlife assets… and related ancillary services… including the processing of such resources into secondary products that are consumed and traded domestically and internationally.
Our wealth of resources
In terms of wildlife assets, South Africa is one of the richest nations on Earth.
We’re ranked 3rd in the world for biodiversity, and although our awe-inspiring country covers just 2% of global land area, we are home to 15% of the world’s coastal marine species, 10% of the Earth’s plants and 7% of all reptiles, birds and mammals.
This natural wealth is certainly worth protecting, and one of the best ways to ensure its longevity is to continue developing the sector in a sustainable manner, both economically and environmentally.
15.3% (18.7 million hectares/187 000 km2) of SA’s total surface area is dedicated to wildlife ranching.
The wildlife sector comprises three sub-sectors
1. Wildlife Ranching
- Primary activities – breeding and live sales
2. Wildlife Activities
- Primary activities – wildlife viewing, trophy hunting, biltong hunting
- Secondary contributions – accommodation, transport, equipment, supplies, taxidermy
3. Wildlife Products
- Primary activities – game meat processing, skin and hide production, other products
- Secondary contributions – packaging and transport
Creating value through hunting
Hunting is, and has been for a very long time, an emotive topic that generates fierce debate. In an article of this nature, we cannot delve into the topic in any meaningful way.
Hopefully, it will suffice to say that we are looking at hunting only in terms of wealth generation, i.e. at the value it creates in the wildlife sector, without offering an opinion on the matter, one way or the other.
By the start of 2018, hunting and its related activities generated over R10 billion in revenue. A breakdown follows:
More food for thought
- In 2015, approximately 200 000 biltong hunters added over R8.6 billion to our GDP.
- Upwards of 9 000 international hunters from the US, Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Germany visited our shores in 2013, and in 2015 they added R1.7 billion to our GDP.
- Given the fact that these are primarily trophy hunters, the practice contributes substantially to the game meat sector.
- The DEA notes that the demand for game meat in Western Europe sits at about 100 000 tonnes per year.
- Currently, SA only exports 600 to 2 000 tonnes per year (generating between R60 – R200 million in income); by contrast, New Zealand exports 40 000 tonnes per year, generating R4 billion in income.
Future aims and aspirations
The government is aiming to use the sector to alleviate poverty, especially in rural areas, by generating further employment (the sector accounted for 100 000 jobs at the beginning of 2018) and stimulating sustainable economic growth. A concern for the DEA, additionally, is transformation.
According to the DEA, it aspires to create,
An inclusive, sustainable and responsive wildlife economy that grows at 10% p.a until at least 2030, while providing a foundation for social well-being and maintaining the ecological resource base.
*All figures sourced from: UNLOCKING THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF SOUTH AFRICA’S BIODIVERSITY ASSETS THROUGH SUSTAINABLE USE OF WILDLIFE. (2018) Department of Environmental Affairs
