PANEL OF EXPERTS INVITES STAKEHOLDER
PARTICIPATION AS IT EXPLORES RHINO HORN TRADE FEASIBILITY AS PART OF SOUTH AFRICA
The Minister of
Environmental Affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa, invites stakeholders to register to
participate in the process of the Panel of Experts investigating the
feasibility of legalizing rhino horn trade.
The Department of
Environmental Affairs was authorised by Cabinet in July 2013 to explore the
feasibility of South Africa
The Panel
of Experts established to assist the Inter-Ministerial Committee appointed by
Cabinet to deliberate on the matters relating to a possible trade in rhino horn
commenced its work in April 2014. Mr Fundisile Mketeni, the Deputy
Director-General, chairs the 10 member Panel: Biodiversity and Conservation and
will report to the Inter-Ministerial Committee before the end of the
year.
The Cabinet-approved Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC)
comprises the Ministers of Environmental Affairs, International Relations and
Cooperation, Trade and Industry, Finance, Science and Technology, Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries, Rural Development and Land Reform, Economic Development
and Tourism, Safety and Security and Justice and Correctional Services. The Committee
will provide guidance relating to preparations in respect of a trade proposal considered
at CITES COP17. The IMC
will meet as soon as the Panel of Experts (PoE) has finalised a report for its
consideration.
The PoE has met twice
since its appointment to initiate its work and discuss the scope of work to done.
Key areas of work undertaken
by the Panel include:
· Analysis
of the current rhino situation and interventions to address illegal killing of
rhino and illegal trade in rhino horn, with a focus on government initiatives;
· Identification
of new or additional interventions required to create an enabling environment
for the sustainable utilization of natural resources and to strengthen the
integrated approach of the government in addressing illegal killing and illegal
trade;
· The
socio-economic impact of wildlife trafficking (illegal killing and illegal
trade) for communities, game farms and private game reserves, conservation
authorities and species conservation, and options relating to the establishment
of alternative economies;
· Special
focus on community involvement and participation, especially the communities
neighbouring protected areas with rhinos
· The potential impact of various
interventions and management scenarios on the conservation of the species,
including range expansion;
· Improve
understanding of demand and supply; the anticipated changes if trade introduced;
and the mechanisms to respond to that change;
· Potential
models/mechanisms for trade (strictly controlled trade, i.e. once-off sale of
stockpiles; government to government trade or more open regulated trade;
sources of specimens and specimens to be traded; the benefits and risks
associated with the different options; regulatory and control mechanisms;
traceability; enforcement measures and financial mechanisms to be considered);
· The
implications and risks for enforcement and security matters and mechanisms to
mitigate (dynamics of wildlife crime and the key issues to be considered in
terms of addressing current enforcement challenges and anticipated enforcement
challenges);
· Implications
of the decisions relating to trade for other rhino range States as well as
implications for consumer States; and
The work of the Panel has intensified as the
number of rhino poached in South
Africa
The Kruger
National Park continues to bear the
brunt of rhino poaching in South
Africa
The number of rhino poached in Limpopo this
year has raised to 51, while 47 rhino poached in KwaZulu-Natal ,
35 in North West and 24 in Mpumalanga
The Panel will co-opt
experts as the need arises and will engage with various stakeholders during the
process. Stakeholders invited to indicate whether they would like to make
representations to the panel, and on what subject matter. The inputs considered
by the Panel in formulating recommendations to the South African government on
an appropriate position on the legalisation of rhino horn trade.
The Panel will
consider the requests received and invite organisations or individuals to
present information to it for consideration. The schedule of
engagements/workshops made available in due course.
· interested
stakeholders and organisations can register their interest to participate with
Mr Mpho Tjiane of the Department of Environmental Affairs through e-mail:mtjiane@environment.gov.za
· Stakeholders
requiring information about the work of the Panel may contact Mr Tjiane at mtjiane@environment.gov.za
· All
media requests must be directed in writing to either Albi Modise at amodise@environment.gov.za or Eleanor Momberg at emomberg@environment.gov.za
To access the
template to be completed by organisations / individuals that would like to
register, click on:
- South Africans and
members of the international community are encouraged to report incidents
of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005,
08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.
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