South Africa’s New Biodiversity Economic Strategy Explores Game Meat and Rhino Horn

South Africa is unveiling a bold new strategy aimed at leveraging its wildlife to drive economic growth and empower historically marginalised communities. The National Biodiversity Economy Strategy encompasses various initiatives, including promoting the consumption of game meat and exploring the medicinal use of rhino horn powder.

Under this revamped 10-year plan, the government seeks to significantly increase the economic value derived from wildlife-related activities. This includes a six-fold increase in the consumption of game meat and a similar rise in revenue from plant trade and bioprospecting by 2036.

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Crucially, the strategy aims to address the historical exclusion of Black communities from the wildlife and conservation sectors. It envisions expanding game ranches, hunting, and conservation efforts on communal lands, while ensuring that these communities benefit economically.

Barbara Creecy, the environment minister, stressed the importance of providing rural communities with incentives for conservation to prevent land invasions and poaching. The proposed use of rhino horn powder for medicinal purposes is contentious but reflects an effort to explore innovative approaches to conservation and economic development.

While some critics view the strategy as a crude form of “extractive conservation,” others see it as a pragmatic approach to balancing conservation with economic development. The plan is currently open for public consultation, highlighting the diverse perspectives on this issue.

Ultimately, South Africa’s biodiversity economy strategy represents a bold attempt to reconcile conservation goals with economic imperatives, recognising the need to empower communities while safeguarding the country’s natural heritage.

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