By Bonita Francis of Predation Management SA (sponsored content)

PMSA plays a key role in coordinating efforts to tackle the problems of predation on livestock and wildlife. The organisation represents four member industries: the National Wool Growers Association (NWGA), the Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO), Mohair SA and Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA).

Strategic collaboration and research priorities

PMSA recently met the Predation Management Centre in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State to discuss a coordinated approach to research projects.

The aim of this collaboration is to efficiently convey a professional communication of the programme to stakeholders. By coordinating research efforts, PMSA can offer more holistic solutions to predator problems and ensure these solutions are applied effectively.

Highlights of the annual meeting

During PMSA’s fourth annual meeting, chairperson Niel du Preez delivered a report on the activities of the past year. The meeting concentrated on issues affecting the industry, including the need for accredited hunters.

PMSA played an important role in obtaining annual permits for hunters in the Eastern Cape, which is crucial to control predation on livestock. Cooperation with SANParks has also been built on to ensure shared responsibility when animals from national parks end up on farms. This cooperation ensures that predation in border areas is effectively managed and conflict between farmers and conservation authorities is reduced.

Predation Forum

The Predation Management Forum meets annually and includes all provincial predation forums, conservation authorities, predation specialists, the state and other stakeholders.

One of the most important issues raised during the recent meeting by the Northern Cape Predation Forum is the issue of warthogs being declared predators. These animals catch and eat lambs, causing huge economic losses for farmers. Warthogs also destroy infrastructure such as fences, which makes it difficult to control other predators, such as black-backed jackal.

This issue highlights the complex nature of predator management and the necessity of multidisciplinary approaches to develop effective solutions.

Priorities and training

PMSA is committed to providing training to stakeholders to manage predation in a sustainable way. The emphasis will be on multidisciplinary research that not only concentrates on the prevention of predation, but also investigates its impact on ecosystems and farm communities.

By building on the existing research partnerships and developing new solutions, PMSA strives to find a sustainable balance between the protection of livestock and wildlife, and the conservation of predators within South Africa’s complex ecosystem.

With the support of all its members, partners and the wider community, PMSA will continue to develop innovative and effective approaches to predation management.

ENQUIRIES: Bonita Francis, PMSA secretariat, tel. 041 365 5030, email: nwga@nwga.co.za