01/09/2026
Good news. Science based sustainable utilisation of our natural resources.
We welcome Minister Maynier’s publication of the CITES export quotas for elephant, black rhinoceros and leopard hunting trophies. This provides urgently needed regulatory certainty for the wildlife sector, professional hunting operations and rural communities that depend on a functioning, sustainable wildlife economy.
We particularly acknowledge the hard work of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in undertaking the scientific assessments that inform this process, as well as the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) for advancing the regulatory and administrative work required to publish the quotas.
Science-based, carefully managed quotas are central to responsible conservation practice. They support sound population management, incentivise the protection of habitat and wildlife, sustain rural employment and create tangible economic value from conservation landscapes.
We commend Minister Maynier, SANBI and DFFE for recognising that sustainable use must be guided by credible science, effective governance and South Africa’s conservation obligations.
A well-regulated wildlife economy remains an essential contributor to biodiversity conservation and rural tourism.
Foundation
