Local Community Participation in Rhino Conservation - Key to Conservation Success

Abstract

A robust framework to guide community engagement in illegal wildlife trade is lacking. There is a need to reconnect local communities with their original wildlife, a connection which they have lost through the influence of colonialism and neo-colonialism. Virtually all conservation bodies and players believe that local communities are key to the success of rhino conservation but they are not equally walking their talk. Bottom-up community-based initiatives help to curb poaching especially level one poachers. The multifaceted problem of African rhino poaching on the continent is approaching calamitous proportions, with astounding, sobering statistics revealing the sheer extent of the illegal practice today. The interplay of rhino horn demand and supply side is fuelled by poverty, greed, superstition, corruption, social injustice, ruthlessness, and ignorance. Economic transformation benefiting wildlife and communities is key to save the rhinoceros species. Rhino properties should provide direct financial benefits to communities, building capacity and engage community members and private landowners in rhinoceros conservation. Rhino protection should be incentivized, continuously increasing the number of people benefiting from conservation, and decreasing animosity toward wildlife will motivate local people to fully embrace conservation efforts. Conservation efforts should first target level one poachers who are vulnerable and exposed, by developing a comprehensive profitable and lucrative community participation packages in all rhino properties. Conservationists should walk their talk and genuinely work with local communities to build support for rhino conservation through education, awareness, self-sustaining business ventures and employment.