WWF Nedbank Green Trust Wild-Sourced Game Meat Initiative

Conservation Outcomes, with funding from the WWF Nedbank Green Trust, is enabling the expansion of the sustainable wildlife ranching industry. Wildlife ranching is a crucial part of developing the biodiversity economy and Conservation Outcomes is creating a game meat demonstration project in partnership with the retail industry.

The project is testing the viability of establishing a game meat market in South Africa that is consistently in line with biodiversity conservation imperatives. These imperatives focus on illustrating the way in which extensive, healthy wildlife systems are an incentive to biodiversity stewardship and can be used as a mechanism or incentive to create sustainable funding for state protected areas.

Currently, the project is focussed on setting up demonstration projects in the Greater Kruger Area and Northern Zululand in KZN. However, the intention is for these demonstration projects to be replicable and scalable across the country.

There is a direct impact on land claim beneficiaries that own conservation areas; as the game meat project is an avenue of income generation. It is not the sole solution to ensuring sustainable eco-use and conservation, but it is an important tool to be added to the wildlife economy toolbox. Furthermore, there are numerous ancillary businesses that can off-shoot from the game meat market; namely, hides and leather, and various processed meats and products. Aside from financial and business-related benefits; the availability of affordable, good quality protein that is more-easily accessible, would be of significant benefit to rural communities that need to travel big distances to purchase their food.

Game meat that is ethically harvested on an extensive system is one of the most sustainable sources of protein. It is perfectly compatible with large tracts of conservation land and utilises indigenous species that are adapted to the South African climate and habitats. In addition, the Game Meat project will provide an additional revenue stream for Protected Areas and therefore contribute to their sustainability.