Picking up students from the Zimbabwean border
Christine & Kwanele, rangers from the Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe
Meeting past students from 6 national parks
Group photo with Willie van Greunen & Theresa Sowrey
Cooking crew busy with lunch preparations
Bush office! Our centre of communications.
Getting up close with the lions!
Did you see that lion?
Oom Willie (Pot) van Greunen vang ook gees!
Brian Haveman serenading the team.
Today was a very exciting day from the SAWC perspective as a total of 9 students got together and discussed their successes and challenges since graduating from the College. These students came from as far afield as Luiwa Plain NP, Sioma Ngwezi NP, Mosi-Oa-Tunya and Victoria Falls NP in Zimbabwe. Not only we were able to discuss training opportunities, but these students saw each other for the first time in many years. A very jubilant reunion was witnessed by all.
It is interesting to note that once again training needs involve human animal conflict, TFCA (Trans Frontier Conservation Area) management and CBNRM (Community based Natural resource management).
All 9 students had been promoted to management positions since their training at the Wildlife College. Once again, 9 success stories!
While sitting around the fire last night, the Peace Parks Carbon Project staff was able to talk to members of the Sioma Ngwezi Parks Board about problems they encounter in the larger area.
From these discussions they were able to get some background from Sioma Ngwezi and feelings of the communities towards the national park. The general public believe the GMA around Sioma Ngwezi is working well, however it is clear from discussions that there are many problems associated with the GMA, not least of which is the high level of poaching, the previous war-ridden area and veld fires, all of which has resulted in very few hunting or photographic concessions in the GMA and therefore no financial benefit to the communities.
On another note, during this trip 73 new rangers have signed up as members with the GRAA so far!
The strengthening of relations during this visit paved the way for increased corporation between these parties.
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1 comment:
Wat 'n wonderlike ervaring wat julle mee maak. Ek is sommer jaloers!
Elke oggend wat julle nog op die lug was, was die opmerking gemaak van "parke sonder heinings". Die sal wonderlik wees as ons hier in Suid Afrika, ons parke ook so sal kan bestuur.
Ek is een, wat self ons buurlande gereeld besoek en was net verlede week weer in Botswana. Ons het die Kgalagadi Park besoek en wat 'n belewenis.
Volgende maand besoek ons Namibia. Dit is my 3de besoek aan Namibia en ek kan nie genoeg kry van daardie pragtige land nie.
Vanoggend het julle gemeld van 'n moontlike toer weer binnekort. Hou asseblief 'n plekkie oop vir twee persone.
Wel gedaan! en geniet die pragtige skepping.
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