The Conservation Symposium 2022
South Africa
Exploring the Science, Practice, and Value of Nature Conservation in Africa
The Conservation Symposium is a platform to facilitate the sharing of ideas and lessons, and for the co-creation of solutions to contemporary conservation issues in Africa. It serves as a bridge between conservation practitioners, scientists and policymakers in a conducive environment to solve real-world problems.
The Conservation Symposium 2022 will be a hybrid event with a central venue for live streaming pre-recorded and live presentations to multi-hub meetings scattered across the country, the continent, and the globe so that it continues to be affordable and inclusive but also allows for face-to-face networking and a social aspect to be catered for.
Virtual attendance is free! Click here to register.
After you register, you can add our three sessions to your schedule.
AWEI at TCS 2022
AWEI is hosting three 90-minute workshops, each with a number of presentations following by a panel discussion.
Mon, 31 Oct 2022 - 11:30-13:00 SAT - Session 3: AWEI Workshop I
Landscape Restoration and Conservation Enabled through Standards for Wildlife Products
This session will explore how voluntary standards and third-party certification schemes can play a central role in enabling and maximizing the performance of sustainable wildlife value chains. Increasing sustainability in value chains is a key aspect of the development of wildlife economies which have the potential to transform, enhance, and maintain African landscapes delivering biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, inclusive economic opportunities, and community well-being. From wildlife production to wildlife harvesting (foraging, fishing, hunting) to wildlife services (tourism, recreation, carbon sequestration), there is a wide range of wildlife enterprises which could benefit from voluntary standards. These standards help to build markets by providing credibility, and transparency through the value chain. They provide assurance to markets – including consumers, investors, and suppliers – of sustainability outcomes. Thus, they enable wildlife economies to scale up by contributing to Sustainable Development Goals across viable and valuable wildlife value chains.
Tue, 1 Nov 2022 - 11:30-13:00 SAT - Session 9: AWEI Workshop II
Developing Community-Based Wildlife Enterprises
Unlocking and diversifying wildlife economies across Africa contributes to biodiversity being recognised, managed, and used as a key asset for economic development. At the local level, wildlife enterprises can create an incentive to conserve by aligning strengthened livelihoods and community well-being, with biodiversity conservation and climate resilience. A focus on building wildlife enterprises at the local level enables communities to take advantage of their knowledge of the local landscape and wild resources and the products that can be generated from these resources. It also enables the communities to take stock of capacities that need to be strengthened as well as to address barriers that may make it challenging to access markets. This session discusses the potential to apply a sustainable livelihoods approach at the local level. A community-based sustainable livelihoods approach to wildlife enterprise development will enable these enterprises to align community-based natural resource management with enhanced local livelihoods and improved community well-being.
Wed, 2 Nov 2022 - 11:30-13:00 SAT - Session 16: AWEI Workshop III
Delivering the SDGs through Wildlife Economies at the Landscape Level
Wildlife economies have the potential to transform, enhance, and maintain African landscapes. Further, the sustainable use of wild resources can deliver on a number of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the landscape level. By linking the management of marine and terrestrial ecosystems (SDGs 14 and 15) to sustainable production processes (SDG 12), it is possible to also promote inclusive economic growth (SDG 8), climate resilience (SDG 13), zero hunger (SDG 2), gender equity (SDG5), and so on. This session will explore how wildlife economies can deliver SDGs by managing landscapes so that "human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature" (2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development).
Mon, 31 Oct 2022 - 11:30-13:00 SAT - Session 3: AWEI Workshop I
Landscape Restoration and Conservation Enabled through Standards for Wildlife Products
Chair - Chanda Mwale, Executive Director, Wildlife Producers Association of Zambia
- Standards for wildlife enterprise - Deborah Vorhies, African Wildlife Economy Institute, Stellenbosch University
- Verifying sustainability in wildlife product value chains – Reinhart Nyandire, African Wildlife Economy Institute, Stellenbosch University
- Comments on the presentations - Francis Vorhies, AWEI Director
Tue, 1 Nov 2022 - 11:30-13:00 SAT - Session 9: AWEI Workshop II
Developing Community-Based Wildlife Enterprises
Chair - Joseph Mbaiwa, Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana, and AWEI Research Fellow
- Diversifying the wildlife economy - Brian Child, University of Florida, and AWEI Board Member
- Sustaining livelihoods through reed harvesting - Nqobile Sibiya, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
Presentation
- The cost and benefit analysis of Dwesa-Cwebe marine protected area on the Wild Coast, South Africa: What role for the state? - Div de Villliers, Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Touris
Presentation
- Documenting case studies of protected areas using alternative livelihoods to reduce user pressure and enhance protected area management effectiveness - Nonhle Mngadi, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
- Product Development for Conservation: The Manuka honey example and how to persuade people to buy stuff they don't need - Michael Musgrave, School of Wildlife Conservation, African Leadership University, and AWEI Research Fellow
Wed, 2 Nov 2022 - 11:30-13:00 SAT - Session 16: AWEI Workshop III
Delivering the SDGs through Wildlife Economies at the Landscape Level
Chair - Michael Musgrave, School of Wildlife Conservation, African Leadership University, and AWEI Research Fellow
- Wildlife economies and sustainable development - Francis Vorhies, African Wildlife Economy Institute, Stellenbosch University
- Taking stock on the implementation of biodiversity economy: A case of Umfolozi Biodiversity Economy Node (UBEN) - Zoluntu Ngwane, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
Presentation
- A role for carbon pricing to support eradiation of invasive trees - Romain Pirard, School of Climate Studies, Stellenbosch University
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