Non-detriment findings for Black and White rhino for public consultation

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Non-detriment findings for Black and White rhino for public consultation

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Last edited by Klipspringer on Thu Aug 22, 2019 6:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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Re: Non-detriment findings for Black and White rhino for public consultation

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South Africa can’t keep up the cost of protecting rhinos, a new government report says – and trade in white rhino horn could be the answer

Phillip de Wet , Business Insider SA
Aug 22, 2019, 04:31 PM


Image

- Private landowners in South Africa – critical to the protection of white rhinos – are losing interest in stocking and securing them, a new government report says.

- Ecotourism can still make for a profit on white rhinos, but with billions in security costs that business is becoming marginal.

- Dropping a hard international ban on trade in their horns, though, could help.


Trade in rhino horn may be the only way to protect the white rhino, a soon-to-be-official South African report in terms of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) says, because the economic incentive to keep rhinos are shrinking.
And with a combination of gun-shy private owners and donor fatigue threatening to reduce the money available for anti-poaching initiatives, South Africa stands to lose R6 billion worth of rhino if those incentives are not readjusted.

The report, formally known as a non-detriment finding on the Southern white rhinoceros, was finalised by the Southern African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi) in July 2018, but published by environment minister Barbara Creecy on Thursday.

That formal publication triggers a 30-day comment period for anyone to offer "written scientific information" relating to its findings.

The report cites rising security costs as a reason why "private rhinoceros owners are showing an increasing tendency to disinvest in the species", leading to a flattening off in population growth when current populations hit the carrying capacity of the land they range on.

Private game farms are estimated to house 28% of South Africa's white rhinos, Sabi says. Those private owners still see some benefit from their rhinos thanks to ecotourism, "but the cost benefit of keeping them is vulnerable (benefits are becoming marginal)."

Private owners spent around R250 million per year up to 2017 to protect their rhinos, according to Sanbi's numbers, while the Kruger National Park spends around R3 million a year to secure its rhinos – but the state needs up to R1.3 billion a year to be sure its rhinos are kept safe.

"It is unlikely that the current investment in the protection of rhinoceroses from current sources (government and donors) can be sustained in the long term," Sanbi says. "Income derived from the sale of rhinoceros horn could assist both government and the private sector to continue funding the current investment in rhinoceros protection."

Failing to keep up protection, on the other hand, could cost South Africa big. Sanbi estimates that if 6% of white rhinos are poached every year – a conservative estimate that excludes recent spikes in poaching detected – the asset cost to South Africa will be R6 billion over the next 10 years.


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Re: Non-detriment findings for Black and White rhino for public consultation

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Information on non detriment findings here:

https://www.sanbi.org/biodiversity/scie ... -findings/

In terms of Section 61 of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) (NEMBA), the Scientific Authority is required to make non-detriment findings on the impact of actions relating to the international trade in specimens of threatened or protected species and species included in the Appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

In terms of Articles III and IV of CITES, an export permit for a specimen of an Appendix I or Appendix II species shall only be granted when the Scientific Authority of the State of export has advised that export will not be detrimental to the survival of that species.

The Scientific Authority of South Africa uses the CITES NDF checklist to make non-detriment findings. A non-detriment finding (NDF) is a science-based risk assessment where the vulnerability of a species is considered in relation to how well it is managed (see image below).
Image

To date, 26 non-detriment findings have been approved by the Scientific Authority, and the Minister of Environmental Affairs has formally published non-detriment findings for the white rhino, the hippopotamus, and the Critically Endangered Encephalartos species


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Re: Non-detriment findings for Black and White rhino for public consultation

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^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^


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Re: Non-detriment findings for Black and White rhino for public consultation

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According to this artice, the purpose of the two reports is preparation for rhino horn trade


https://africageographic.com/blog/rhino ... n-30-days/


Rhinos: Trade in horn and increase trophy hunting, says Minister. Have your say, within 30 days
Posted on 26 August, 2019 by Africa Geographic Editorial in News, Wildlife and the News Desk post series. — 1 Comment
Posted: August 26, 2019


The South African Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, has requested public comment of a scientific nature on her proposal to:

1. Enable the international trade in white rhino horn by down-listing the white rhino on CITES.
2. Increase the annual quota of black rhinos for trophy hunting in South Africa, from the current five males to an unspecified number.

WHITE RHINOS
Currently the South African population of white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum simum) have a split listing on CITES. They are listed on Appendix II of CITES, as regards permitting the international sale of live white rhinos that are bred in captivity for commercial purposes, and the export of trophy hunting trophies for non-commercial purposes. In all other forms (such as rhino horn), white rhinos are included in CITES Appendix I, and no international commercial trade is permitted.

After providing extensive background information, the minister concludes that “The export, for primarily non-commercial purposes, of rhinoceros horn that has been legally sourced, either through natural mortalities and/or horn harvest from wild populations, or from captive breeding facilities, will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild provided that (1) the income derived from these exports contributes directly to the conservation of wild rhinoceros populations and (2) the captive breeding facilities meet the Scientific Authority’s approved criteria for the captive breeding of white rhinoceros” and “it is clear that C. simum simum does not meet the biological criteria for inclusion in Appendix I of CITES and a proposal to effect a straight Appendix II listing (i.e. without an annotation) can be considered.”

Put another way, the minister has recommended to downgrade the protection afforded to the South African white rhino population under CITES from Appendix I to Appendix II, which will permit the export of rhino horn, in addition to the current permission to export live rhinos and hunting trophies.


BLACK RHINOS
Currently the South African population of black rhinos (Diceros bicornis) is listed under CITES I, but with an annotation that permits the trophy hunting of five black rhino males per annum. No other international commercial trade is permitted.

After providing extensive background information, the minister concludes that “current exports of live animals and hunting trophies pose a low risk to the survival of this species in South Africa and should be allowed to continue” and “Legal hunting of black rhinoceros is beneficial to the conservation and protection of the species in South Africa, though the current low levels of trophy offtakes do not sufficiently incentivise the conservation of the species or its habitat. As there are surplus males that could be hunted, over and above the 3-4 trophy bulls hunted per year, the CITES export quota of five hunting trophies from adult males could be increased” and “Due to the Endangered status of the species in South Africa and the difficulties of regularly dehorning black rhinoceros, the export of black rhinoceros horn for primarily noncommercial purposes is not recommended at this stage.”

In other words, the minister has recommended that the number of black rhinos available for hunting annually should be increased, although she does not specify a number. She does not support the international trade of black rhino horn.

The two PDF documents below provide detailed reasoning by the minister for her two recommendations, including an extensive history of the conservation successes and failures of each species. We highly recommend that you read both documents before responding to the Minister, as only informed and scientific feedback stands a chance of being taken seriously.

You have until 22 September 2019 to send your feedback to the minister at:
Chair: Scientific Authority
South African National Biodiversity Institute
Attention: Ms M Pfab, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

• Or by hand: 2 Cussonia Avenue, Brumeria, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
• Or via email: m.pfab@sanbi.org.za
• Or by fax: (+27) 086-555-9863


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Re: Non-detriment findings for Black and White rhino for public consultation

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https://africageographic.com/blog/minis ... inos-left/

Minister: How many wild rhinos do we have left?
Posted on August 27, 2019 by Simon Espley in the OPINION EDITORIAL post series.
126 24 0 2

OPINION POST by Simon Espley – CEO Africa Geographic
OPEN LETTER TO MINISTER BARBARA CREECY, Department of the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa

Madam Minister,

I read with interest your call for ‘scientific’ feedback on your recommendation that South Africa permit international trade in white rhino horn, and allow increased numbers of black rhino to be shot by trophy hunters. And, your recommendation goes even further – you suggest downlisting white rhinos from CITES Appendix I to Appendix II, because, “it is clear that C. simum simum does not meet the biological criteria for inclusion in Appendix I of CITES”. You have given us a mere 30 days to respond.

Surely, Minister, if those with the relevant resources and nous are to provide ‘scientific’ input, they should, at the very least, know how many rhinos we have left in our National Parks? I would imagine that you know how many wild rhinos remain, and that you used this information when you came up with these recommendations. And yet your department has refused all approaches to reveal the numbers.

In the body of your recommendations, you make a few claims that took me by surprise. For example, you say that “legal and illegal harvests combined are currently still within sustainable levels”. Feedback from my networks is that white rhino populations in Kruger National Park have been particularly hammered by a horrible cocktail of drought and poaching, and that the lower poaching statistics for 2019 to date that your department claim as a “success” (190 for the first six months of 2019, compared to 222 for the same period in 2018) are because there are fewer rhinos left to poach. Your claim that the situation is “sustainable” seems out of sync with what people on the ground are saying.

Feedback from a number of well-placed, respected individuals in my network is that the current population of white rhinos in the Kruger National Park is now significantly lower than the official 2017 estimate of 4,759 – 5,532 – this being the most recent official update. But, in the light of no official current numbers, everyone is speculating.

I would imagine that a dramatic population reduction would be a bad foundation on which to be making applications to CITES to reduce rhino conservation protection, or to remove increased numbers via trophy hunting. Again, speculation.

The key word here, is ‘speculation’, and I have heard much of it lately. Without formal notification from you about how many rhinos are left in our National Parks, those of us who are concerned about rhinos, and particularly those that you now task to provide ‘scientific’ feedback, are left to speculate.

Speculation is what fills the void when fact is absent, and becomes a powerful tool for those whose priorities are not aligned with yours. By not following the example of your predecessor, by not being transparent about how many wild rhinos we have left in our National Parks, you are feeding the very monster that is ripping the conservation world apart – those purveyors of emotive speculation, ideological rants and fake news. These enemies of conservation are a fact of life these days, and they feast on this lack of transparency.

Please don’t tell us that releasing these figures is a security threat. As if poaching syndicates crunch their numbers and plan their attacks based on annual population updates. Or, is that your understanding of where poaching syndicates and ground crew get their intelligence?

Please Madam Minister, end the speculation, arm our scientists with the necessary facts, and disarm the enemies of conservation. Let’s focus on fact and the resultant considered strategies to keep our wildlife safe. Tell us how many wild rhinos remain in our national parks.

Sincerely,



CEO, Africa Geographic


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Re: Non-detriment findings for Black and White rhino for public consultation

Post by Richprins »

Absolutely! Returned from my umpteenth trip yesterday without seeing even SIGNS of rhino, this time to the Pretoriuskop area, their "homeland".

It would also be interesting to see a breakdown of rhino numbers for different ranger sections, with PK and Skuks known to be the worst, and Malelane and CB the best... O**


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Re: Non-detriment findings for Black and White rhino for public consultation

Post by Lisbeth »

Excellent Mr. Espley! (Aren't they going to to start a count in these days? I don't know how exact it will be though -O- )


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Re: Non-detriment findings for Black and White rhino for public consultation

Post by Lisbeth »

I cannot find the post about the census :-?


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