On Thursday, 26 September, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, unveiled Vision 2040 for South African National Parks (SANParks), which aims for social justice and sustainable development in conservation efforts.

The initiative intends to align conservation more decisively to redress and advancement of shared economic growth in ways that can tangibly changes lives, Singh said. This model of conservation aims to promote social justice and inclusivity, by guaranteeing that all communities, particularly the disadvantaged and marginalised, have fair and equitable access to opportunities and resources.

According to a statement from the department, Vision 2040 reimagines the future of conservation and the institutional fitness of SANParks. Vision 2040 aims to ensure that every South African has a stake in conservation, with tangible benefits that improve livelihoods and create opportunities.

In seeking to realise this future, SANParks believes there is a need to examine its current organisational form, and as the country’s leading conservation agency, how it will be able to fulfill Vision 2040.

Singh congratulated the Board and management of SANParks as he supported the intended approach of implementing Vision 2040 through the rollout of Mega Living Landscapes (MLL).

MLLs are large, interconnected areas that intend to break the myth that conservation is solely the playground of scientists and environmentalists. The department invited ordinary South Africans to find their place within Vision 2040. MLL protected areas will no longer be isolated islands but rather interconnected to their surrounding communities. This approach seeks to foster co-existence, inclusivity, and sustainable development, ensuring that more South Africans are able to participate in conservation efforts.

“SANParks believes we are heading into a future in which authorities and entities which own national parks, farmland, provincial and municipal land, and communal land, could explore improved means of co-existence, with the possibility of benefit sharing as part of South Africa’s conservation estate. Entities could explore the declaration of lands under one entity, which would become a MLL. The resulting MLL would become an anchor for local development, providing jobs, supporting local entrepreneurs, and fostering educational opportunities,” the department said.

The journey to Vision 2040 began in 2022 when SANParks embarked on a consultation process throughout the country. Engagements were conducted with communities neighbouring national parks, visitors to national parks, traditional leaders, employees, conservationists, traditional healers, women, scientists and youth organizations. These inputs helped shape a shared vision for the future of conservation in South Africa as encapsulated in Vision 2040.

Vision 2040 is further part of South Africa’s response to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s goal of conserving 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland water, and coastal areas, popularly referred to as the 30 x 30 principle. In South Africa, this means expanding conservation lands by an additional 14 million hectares, creating a vast network of interconnected, ecologically vibrant areas.

Singh challenged SANParks to reconvene annually to report back on the Vision 2040 commitments made. In response to this call SANParks will embed Vision 2040 in its plans and integrate it as part of its performance reporting.

Counter-poaching activities are crucial to the success of initiatives like Vision 2040, as they directly address the threats to biodiversity and the ecological balance that conservation efforts aim to protect. Effective counter-poaching strategies foster trust and cooperation between local communities and conservation authorities, ensuring that marginalized groups see tangible benefits from conservation efforts. Counter-poaching is not just about protecting wildlife; it is about creating a sustainable future where both nature and people can thrive together.

In a further sign of efforts to combat poaching, SANParks announced that two former Kruger National Park Rangers were sentenced on 27 September 2024 to an effective 20-year jail term for their involvement in rhino poaching.

Lucky Mkanzi and Joe Sihlangu were field rangers attached to the Crocodile bridge Section of the Park and were arrested in January 2019 in an intelligence driven operation. Information was received that both accused were involved in the transportation of poaching suspects in the Godleni area of the section where two carcasses of white rhino were discovered. Analysis of their vehicle tracking device placed them at the vicinity of the crime scene. The two were taken into custody and confessed to taking part in the crime. An amount of R41 000 was recovered from Shilhangu’s room and it was determined that the money was payment for his participations in the commission of the crime.

SANParks, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the National Prosecuting Agency said they hoped these sentences will send a strong message to the Rangers’ Corps that criminality will not be tolerated and that those involved will face the full might of the law and suffer the consequences of their action.