Unlocking opportunities for land reform beneficiaries in South Africa’s wildlife economy

The wildlife economy and South Africa's land reform objectives

This policy brief discusses how opportunities for land reform beneficiaries in South Africa’s wildlife economy align with land reform objectives, including social justice and economic development. In rural areas, land reform programmes focus on supporting agricultural land uses. However, in regions with high biodiversity, wildlife-based land uses offer a pathway to integrate conservation with rural development. Unlocking opportunities for land reform beneficiaries in South Africa’s wildlife economy is essential to supporting key national strategies, including the Biodiversity Economy Strategy, the White Paper on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa's Biodiversity, the Game Meat Strategy, and the South African National Park’s Vision 2040. 

Current opportunities for land reform beneficiaries in South Africa’s wildlife economy

To support these strategies, we engaged with land reform beneficiaries in the Addo-Amathole Biodiversity Economy Node in the Eastern Cape Province, which also overlaps with the Greater Addo Mega Living Landscape under Vision 2040. Our research finds that, despite wildlife-based activities being listed in the business plans of all interviewed beneficiaries, most are not yet participating meaningfully in the wildlife economy. 

This brief outlines specific policy and implementation opportunities to overcome current barriers to participation that emerged from this research, including support for identifying viable wildlife-based business models; investment in infrastructure and wildlife stocks; conservancies and landscape partnerships as entry points for skills development, mentorship, and market access; and coordinated, cross-sectoral support.