Importance of wildlife and conservation for sustainable economic development
By Luke
Reflecting back on our trip to South Africa, I am encouraged about the recent developments in the country and the importance they seem to be placing on sustainability and the way the recognize their wildlife as one of the most important resources that the country has.
As someone who cares deeply about land and wildlife conservation, I have struggled with the idea that as countries develop and prosper, often that is at the expense of the environment, wildlife, and conservation land. Reflecting back on our trip to South Africa, I am encouraged about the recent developments in the country and the importance they seem to be placing on sustainability and the way the recognize their wildlife as one of the most important resources that the country has. In our visit with NEPAD, they really cared about having a sustainable solution in the long term, not one that would boost the economy at the expense of the environment. When we asked them to prioritize the creation of jobs and cleaning the environment in the upper Olifants River basin, they said they care more about the environment and putting in place a truly sustainable industry. When we floated the idea to them that they could develop tourism in the area centered around their wildlife, that was a real option for them and something they were excited about. The idea that conservation and the creation of wildlife reserves is maybe more beneficial for a region than the establishment of a traditional industry was something very encouraging to me.
Our experience at the Cheetah breeding center raised a lot of questions in my mind around the purpose of such a place. You think of cheetahs and wild dogs as being so rare and endangered, yet here they are with close to a hundred of each, waiting for the right opportunity to send them out to a reserve. Because of the large range of wild dog packs and both the inbreeding and large range of cheetahs, there isn’t enough room in the current reserves for more of them. The solution for cheetahs and wild dogs is not to establish breeding programs, it is to protect more land so animals at places like the cheetah center can send their animals to a place with enough space for more cheetahs and wild dogs. Through our conversations with NEPAD, it sounds like South Africa is on the right track and in the right mindset to prosper economically while also bringing along its wildlife in that prosperity. Even things like Eaton Electric’s microgrids could lead to more conserved land as electricity could enable the establishment of reserve in the most rural areas. Industries other than farming could pop up in those areas once reliable electricity is present, freeing up land for other uses. I hope to journey back to South Africa in the future and see the progression along the path this country has set up for itself.