THE SOUTH AFRICAN WILDLIFE ECONOMY

Conservation of wildlife is frequently seen as a cost to governments, resulting in little investment in wildlife resources despite the extensive contributions that the wildlife economy can, and does, make in terms of employment and revenues. The wildlife economy has the potential to significantly increase employment above the current 410 000 jobs related to biodiversity. A biodiversity economy can generate jobs in line with other sectors in the national economy and improve citizens’ welfare. South Africa’s growing size of protected areas is an opportunity to expand grounds for biodiversity that fuels tourism and rural development. Communities need to be central in developing the biodiversity economy to enhance stakeholder relations and protect wildlife from illegal harvesting or poaching. Capacitation of communities could help solve governance problems, corruption, and conflicts that are often coupled with growing illicit wildlife trade and poverty issues. Illegal wildlife trade is the fourth largest transnational criminal activity globally and is driven by growing demand from Asia, thus putting pressure on populations of wildlife. Parliament is best placed to conduct oversight of Government plans to transform the wildlife sector to make it inclusive to address poverty, unemployment, and inequality