Posts

Rewilding and Regenerative Agriculture: Partners in Restoring Africa’s Landscapes

Image
Can Conservation and Farming Coexist? Africa’s landscapes have always been shaped by a dynamic relationship between wildlife, people, and ecosystems. From the vast wooded grasslands where megafauna roam to the mixed farming systems where livestock graze alongside wild herbivores, humans and nature have evolved together for millennia. Yet, traditional perspectives often frame conservation and agriculture as being at odds, as if humans and nature exist separately (Schulte To Bühne, Pettorelli, and Hoffmann, 2022). However, a shift in thinking is gaining traction—one that recognizes humans as an integral part of natural systems. Rewilding has emerged as a strategy to rejuvenate ecosystems by reintroducing keystone species and rebuilding ecological functions (Svenning et al., 2016). Meanwhile, regenerative agriculture takes a nature-aligned approach, revitalizing soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and promoting sustainable livelihoods (Keesstra et al., 2018). Both positive steps forward ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Matrix Quality part 1: The Unsung Hero of Landscape Health (and Why It Matters More Than You Think)

Image
What Exactly Is the Matrix (No, Not the Movie)? When people talk about habitat fragmentation, the conversation often focuses on the bits of nature that are left behind — the fragments . These are the patches of forest, wetland, or grassland that somehow survive when human activity carves up the landscape. But there’s something just as important that often gets ignored: the matrix — the land between those fragments. The matrix is everything that fills the space between natural habitats — farms, roads, towns, industrial zones, and even low-intensity grazing land. And matrix quality — how friendly or hostile that land is to biodiversity — can make or break the health of a fragmented landscape (Fahrig, 2003; Haddad et al., 2015). The Matrix is Everywhere — But It’s Not All Equal Imagine you’re a dung beetle (stick with me here) living in a fragment of Renosterveld in the Klein Karoo. If the farmland next to you uses regenerative grazing practices, keeps some natural vegetation intac...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Defense of Science: The Folly of Emotive Thinking in Conservation

Image
In Defense of Science: The Folly of Emotive Thinking in Conservation Roger Ballen’s exhibit , "The End of the Game," uses grotesque taxidermy and provocative imagery to challenge viewers and critique not only trophy hunting, but utilization of natural resources as a whole. While visually compelling, the exhibit and associated anti-hunting rhetoric oversimplify complex conservation issues, often disregarding the nuanced realities faced by those who live with wildlife daily. Further, the obvious intrinsic value lens used by the artist is archaic and outdated- seeing man and nature as two separate entities. This critique argues for the conservation value of trophy hunting and utilisation conservation as a whole, while criticizing the exclusionist principles often championed by those detached from practical conservation efforts. Conservation is a complex and dynamic endeavor encompassing economics, human relations, agriculture, and much more. Traditionally, conservation focused o...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Importance of Agricultural Land to Conservation Efforts in South Africa

Image
  Agricultural land plays a crucial role in conservation efforts, serving as a keystone in maintaining biodiversity, promoting regenerative agriculture, and enhancing matrix quality. Understanding the interplay between these elements is vital for both the public and conservationists, especially in a diverse and ecologically rich country like South Africa. Biodiversity Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms within a given ecosystem, including plants, animals, and microorganisms. Agricultural lands, particularly those managed with conservation in mind, can serve as refuges for many species. South Africa, with its unique biomes such as the Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, and Grasslands, benefits immensely when agricultural practices are aligned with conservation goals. Agricultural lands provide habitats and corridors for wildlife, supporting species that might otherwise be confined to shrinking natural reserves. For example, hedgerows, cover crops, and field margins can offer shel...
Post a Comment
Read more

A look into compassionate conservation

Image
 The Pitfalls of Compassionate Conservation Compassionate conservation is a modern movement that prioritizes the welfare of individual animals within conservation efforts. Although the intention behind it is praiseworthy, this approach has drawn considerable criticism for its practical and ecological shortcomings. Overshadowing Ecosystem Health The primary flaw of compassionate conservation is its intense focus on individual animal welfare, which often clashes with broader environmental goals like ecosystem health and biodiversity preservation. Critics, including Griffin et al. (2020), argue that this individualistic approach could inadvertently threaten native biodiversity more than traditional conservation methods. By trying to protect every single animal, compassionate conservation risks disrupting ecological balances that are crucial for the environment. Ethical Idealism vs. Practical Necessity While compassionate conservation's ethical framework is morally appealing, it often ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rethinking the Proposed UK Ban on Trophy Imports: A Conservation Paradox

Image
Rethinking the Proposed UK Ban on Trophy Imports: A Conservation Paradox In the quest to protect wildlife, the UK is considering a ban on trophy imports, a decision supposedly fueled by ethical considerations and a desire to preserve endangered species. However, this seemingly well-intentioned measure may inadvertently threaten biodiversity and the ecosystems it aims to save. Trophy hunting, often viewed critically, plays a paradoxical role in conservation. It generates significant revenue which is vital for the maintenance of large, biodiverse habitats. Countries like Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania rely on these funds to manage vast tracts of wilderness. Without the economic incentive provided by trophy hunting, these lands might be repurposed for agriculture or urban development, activities which pose a greater threat to wildlife than regulated hunting. The ban could also impact local economies in developing African nations. Communities often depend on the funds from sustainable hun...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Benefits of Biodiversity

Image
Monitor Lizard( Varanus albigularis ) in Kruger   The word “biodiversity” was first coined in the 1980’s and is, quite obviously, a contraction of “biological diversity”. Interestingly, the topic- as a stand alone- didn’t catch mainstream academic and societal attention until the 1990’s, by which time it was already considered to be a crisis discipline. While definitions for biodiversity vary, a generally accepted example would be “The diversity of life in all its forms and at all levels of organization; & the processes that link them with each other and the abiotic environment”. A broad, encompassing definition which brings together the 3 accepted branches of biodiversity: Genetics, Species and Ecosystems (ESA 1997). With the defining of biodiversity as a concept came the need for its application, and understanding of its relevance, to the human species. Some argued that biodiversity has value completely separate to the human context (Soule 1985)- intrinsic value- while others...
Post a Comment
Read more