Honorary rangers contribute R80m and 313 000 man-hours to SANParks in 2023
The SANParks Honorary Rangers promote a variety of initiatives, including fundraising, public awareness and workforce and equipment support for conservation, tourism and environmental education. This is what they had achieved in 2023.
The contribution of the SANParks Honorary Rangers (SHR) to SANParks grew by 5% and now totals R80m.
The SHR also contributed a total of 313 000 duty hours to SANParks in 2023, totalling an average of 155 duty hours per member.
This is a fitting celebration of the 60th anniversary of the SHR.
SANParks’ CEO, Hapiloe Sello, congratulated the SHR on their 2023 Integrated Report. She said the report showcases the amazing work of these volunteer members, and the projects that have made a tangible difference across the country’s national parks.
“The SHR is a volunteer organisation open to anyone with a passion for nature and a dedication to supporting SANParks. The SHR facilitates various activities enabling the public’s involvement for SANParks to fulfil its mandate. Contributions include raising funds, creating public awareness and supplying workforce and equipment to supplement various conservation, tourism and environmental education needs within SANParks,” said Sello.
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She added that SANParks extends its gratitude to the SHR members and donors for their efforts that support the development, management and promotion of sustainable national parks representing South Africa’s biodiversity and heritage.
The SHR’s chairperson, Paul Colditz, said the purpose of the report is to highlight their support of conservation in South Africa. It shows their member projects and various activities, and how these add value to SANParks. The report also provides information on the importance of member contributions in conserving the country’s natural heritage.
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“We aim to show our commitment to good governance and how we effectively apply the resources entrusted to us to support South African conservation in our national parks. This report also contains future statements regarding the SANParks Honorary Rangers funding prospects and performance. While these statements represent our expectations at the time of preparing this report, ongoing uncertainties relating to our ability to deliver on our planned wish list items and funding may differ from our expectations,” Colditz said.
