Preserving Wildlife and Biodiversity in Africa: The South Africa Project
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The Eastern Cape Province of South Africa contains an incredible diversity of life encompassing five biomes and varied wildlife habitats, ranging from alpine grasslands to the coastal sand dunes and warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Central to all this is the unique and vulnerable Thicket Biome, home to a variety of large mammals including the “megaherbivores”, elephants and black rhinos and a variety of rare and endemic plants. Unfortunately, like many of the world’s wild areas, this stunningly beautiful place has been abused in the past and continues to be threatened in many ways, providing both problems and solutions that we will investigate on site.
Participants will join wildland researchers in investigating the ecology and conservation of several of South Africa’s premier ecosystems and the magnificent wildlife populations they support. Through hands-on approaches, team members will gain a unique perspective on conservation, wildlife, and biodiversity issues in South Africa, working in and traveling to areas not often visited by tourists, and well off the beaten path. Our team will explore the Eastern Cape Province, visiting a variety of nature reserves and parks, to observe and experience the diversity and beauty of the country’s wild heritage firsthand. Please note that prior field research experience is not required. All necessary skills of data acquisition and analysis will be taught onsite in South Africa; and case studies will be used to introduce basic concepts of wildlife monitoring and community and population biology.
THE PROJECT
While the group will conduct field studies in several areas, our project will focus on the Great Fish River Reserve that contains one of the largest populations of black rhinos on the continent. Eland, kudu, hartebeest, and hippos are among the other large animals we will encounter here, and the reserve is preparing to receive a re-introduction of elephants, wiped out in the 19th century by hunting. We will also examine the famous Addo National Park with its dense elephant population and study the effects of these megaherbivores on the vegetation. In addition to National Parks, we anticipate studying relatively unknown provencial nature reserves where the need for wildlife research and monitoring is particularly acute. But large mammals do not exist solely in government conservation areas. In South Africa additional options for their conservation arise from the possibilities for private ownership of wild animals. We will also examine some of these enterprises that attempt to combine conservation with employment and profits. Our efforts will involve smaller creatures as well, as we participate in small mammal and carnivore studies.
A second goal of our project will be to understand the human dimension of human and wildlife controversies through intensive dialog with local people whose livelihood depends on the land. Reconciling how, simultaneously, to protect and preserve wildlife populations while supporting human economic growth and cultural diversity is one of the greatest challenges faced by conservationists today. Extensive exposure to local people and their perspectives through visits to villages and participation in a hands-on development project as well as visits to pastoral projects involving the indigenous Nguni cattle, local ranches, and towns, will give us perspective on the fascinating human dimension of this culturally-rich region of the Eastern Cape. Cross-cultural exchange and dialog with area residents will educate us about the needs and concerns of local people, as well as the historical, economic and cultural constraints under which they operate. A final goal of our project will be to integrate our understanding of the human, scientific, and wildlife dimensions, and to share our observations and research with local landowners/residents, managers, and scientists who are considering the region’s future.
A combination of hands-on involvement in original research projects, exchange with local people, and “steeping” ourselves in the natural environment will provide us with a rich and broad-based educational experience, and a tremendous opportunity for both intellectual and personal growth. By the end of the project, we will have gained and contributed to a broader perspective on the interplay between the human, scientific, ethical, and ecological dimensions in the conservation of one of the world’s most precious biotas.
Full information available on request.
PROJECT LEADER
PETER LENT, W.S. Environmental Researcher, examines South Africa's wildlife ecology and environmental conservation strategies. Peter is a Wildlife Ecologist with many years of experience in southern Africa. He has led several groups of American students visiting in Africa and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa.