WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT - THE WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY CONCEPT
Establishing a wildlife conservancy
R W Markham
A conservancy is a group of farms on which neighbouring landowners have pooled some of their resources for the purpose of conserving wildlife on their combined properties. The members elect a committee, which draws up a constitution, collects fees from the participating landowners, and hires guards to patrol the conservancy.  

In most cases, conservancies are formed to conserve wildlife, and in a few other instances, they are formed to improve security measures by curbing arson, stock and crop theft, vandalism, trespass, harassment of labor, and vagrancy.
Conservancies need not be restricted to rural areas and some conservancies operate successfully in urban and semi-urban areas in KwaZulu-Natal.
This technical guide serves two purposes: first to advise landowners about how to form a conservancy and second, to assist conservancy members with the running of a conservancy.
Background

Less than 7% of KwaZulu-Natal is formally conserved, whilst 60% of the province is privately owned, and if some of this private land could be managed for wildlife conservation purposes, then the conservation effort in KwaZulu-Natal would be greatly enhanced. Participation by the public is essential for this ideal to succeed.

One of the founding organisations of the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, the Natal Parks Board, was established in 1947 to manage protected areas in the province but it was not until 1964 that work outside nature reserves involving problem animals and fisheries was undertaken by conservation officials. During the mid-1960’s private landwoners began showing an interest in managing game on their farms. The Natal Parks Board responded by employing biologists to advise farmers on game and habitat management, and also stationed a number of nature conservation officers in the districts.

In 1975, the Natal Parks Board produced a document entitled ‘Farm patrol Plan’. This document advised landowners of ways of combating poaching and conserving wildlife in a co-operative manner with their neighbours.
In 1977, some farmers in the Balgowan area discussed the possibility of a co-operative conservation effort whereby landowners with adjoining properties would pool resources and hire game guards in an attempt to stop the poaching of game and indigenous plants on their properties.
In 1978, 22 farmers formed the Balgowan Conservancy. Within 5 years, over 90 conservancies with about 1000 members, 200 conservancy guards and 650 000 ha in extent had been formed. These figures have grown to 227 conservancies with 3392 members employing 771 conservancy guards to protect 1576566 ha. in 1999.

Why form a conservancy?
It is important that the question "Why form a conservancy?" or "What is the problem?" be asked by those wishing to form a conservancy. Fee-paying members quite rightly expect some benefit to arise from the use of funds collected. Should a conservancy be started in an area where no real problem exists, the member will soon want to know why they belong to the conservancy. Therefore, a new conservancy if established for a sound reason (e.g. because of poaching or security problems) will have a solid base on which to work.

The principal reason for establishing a conservancy is to improve the status and variety of wildlife on private land. (The word ‘wildlife’ in this article refers not only to animals, but also to indigenous plants, forests, wetlands and other habitats). Once the conservancy is functioning properly, landowners can expect to see more animal life both in terms of numbers and species; the incidence of illegal trapping and poaching will decrease, and in the long term wildlife will be safeguarded at a much higher level than could ever by achieved by the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service alone.

Current KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service involvement.

The KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service maintains a working relationship with conservancies and assists and advises conservancy members on many aspects of conservancy related work. In particular, it provides the following services and assistance:

1. An officer whose duties include the promotion and coordination of conservancies, laision with the Natal Conservancies Association, and editing the conservancy newsletter, the "Guinea Fowl".
 
2. District Conservation Officers who assist in the implementation of these plans, and with solving other conservation related problems.
 
3. A training school for conservancy game guards.
 
4. Preferential and subsidized game allocations for initial introductions.
 
5. A regular conservancy newsletter, and literature on wildlife management. 

How to establish and run a conservancy.
As with most voluntary organizations, a successful start requires a local enthusiast to generate interest in the local community. The first step is to call a meeting involving all interested parties, the local KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service District Conservation Officer, and a member of a successful conservancy. Discussion at this stage should include possible number of members, size of the conservancy, number of conservancy guards required, cost of guards including salaries, equipment, uniforms and accommodation, methods of raising funds, collection of fees and details regarding the administration of the conservancy.

Each conservancy is a voluntary organisation with an elected committee and a constitution. The smaller conservancies, with fewer members usually require a less formal organisation compared with some of the large conservancies, which may have 40 members or more. With a conservancy of 10 members, the ideal committee is three, being a chairman, secretary/treasurer and a conservancy guard controller. A conservancy with more than 10 members may require a larger committee for smooth organisation and fuller participation by its members.

Membership fees for a conservancy may be collected in a number of ways. The most common practice (perhaps because it is the fairest and works best) is to charge each member a basic fee and in addition a pro rata sum based on the number of hectares of land owned by each individual. The man with a small property will pay less than the man with a large property. The conservancy guards will also spend less time patrolling a smaller property than a large one.

Conservancies are advised to draw up a legal document, which once signed by all members, allows the conservancy guards to patrol their land. Public liability insurance is a good idea in case of any legal action being instituted against the conservancy.

With the adoption of a constitution the conservancy may sue or in turn be sued. The constitution and its binding rules guide the members in the smooth running of the organisation. For example, the constitution should make provision for an annual general meeting to be held each year before a certain date.

Conservancy guard organisation
The conservancy warden (controller) and guard team are the most important components of the conservancy. The choice of a suitable warden needs careful consideration. The warden requires time, willingness, leadership abilities and the understanding necessary to motivate the conservancy guards in their work. The warden should constantly monitor the quality and effectiveness of the conservancy guards’ work. The KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service District Field Rangers, when available, can also be used to monitor the work of the conservancy guards.

The warden should inform the conservancy guards of their conditions of employment as this ensures that both employer and employees are aware of each other’s needs and demands. Aspects like the salary, housing, hours of work, general duties, leave, time off, sick leave, annual salary adjustments, disciplinary measures and the issuing of orders require clarification for both parties. In most cases a line of command via the warden works best.

Conservancy guards are best recruited by the conservancy, but where problems arise the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service can be approached for assistance with recruiting. Once the conservancy is satisfied with the recruits (and the recruits with the conservancy), they can be sent to the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service Field Ranger training school for a full training course (ca 30 days). This course covers all aspects of the guards’ work. Refresher courses, lasting a week are also available for trained conservancy guards.

Conservancy guards work according to the requirements of the warden of the conservancy. Aspects of their work include collecting snares and traps, arresting poachers or trespassers, and the identification and counting of game and other forms of wildlife. In some conservancies the guards are required to protect the landowners’ produce and equipment against theft and arson attempts.

The farm labourers and their families, who reside within conservancies, can play an important role in assisting to conserve wildlife in these areas. By introducing the conservancy guards to these people, and by explaining to them what the landowners and guards are trying to achieve by means of the conservancy, they may start working for, rather than against the idea. They should also be shown what benefits they are receiving because of the conservancy in their area, such as better security and less harassment by wrongdoers. Some conservancies have also decided to provide their resident labour with an antelope each year as part of an incentive program.

KEY POINTS
Any group of landowners may join forces to establish a conservancy.
The principal aim of forming conservancies is to improve the status and variety of wildlife on private land.
The success of a conservancy depends mainly on the organisation and quality of work of the conservancy guards.