Great Plains Conservation Foundation

TO FUND THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEST PRACTICE FOR CONSERVATION WITH LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT WILDLIFE AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN AFRICA INCLUDING THE PROMOTION OF RESPONSIBLE TOURISM TO ASSIST IN THE ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA.

RHINOS WITHOUT BORDERS GPF HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE RELOCATION OF 87 RHINOS FROM SOUTH AFRICA WITH THE RELOCATION INTO THE BOTSWANA WILDERNESS. THERE ARE 3 CORE BREEDING HERDS AND OVER THE PAST 6 YEARS 68 NEW CALVES HAVE BEEN BORN. THE PROGRAM COVER THE FULL COST OF PRE-TRANS-LOCATION QUARANTINE COSTS ALL LICENCE AND PERMIT APPLICATIONS THE ACTUAL TRANSPORTATION COSTS RELEASE COST AND POST RELEASE SECURITY AND MONITORING COSTS. THE FOUNDATION COVERS THE COST OF TWO MONITORING TEAMS WHO ARE BASED CLOSE TO THE BREEDING HERDS THE COSTS OF A CENTRAL MONITORING STATION TELEMETRY EQUIPMENT AND SATELITE TRACKING OF THE RHINOS. THIS HAS ENSURED THAT THE HERDS ARE MANAGED AND IF NECESSARY RELOCATED AWAY FROM HIGH RISK AREAS. POACHING RISK HAS RISEN IN THE LAST YEAR IN BOTSWANA AND THE CONSTANT ON THE GROUND MONITORING COMBINED WITH AERIAL OBVERSATION AND SATELITE TRACKING HAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE THREAT. IN ADDITION THE MONITORING TEAMS CONSISTENTLY ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE THEM ON THE BENEFITS OF A DIVERSE WILDLIFE POPULATION AND THE COMMERCIAL BENEFITS WHICH FLOW FROM EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE TOURISM SECTOR.

PROJECT RANGER IN 2020 RESPONSE TO THE GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC GREAT PLAINS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION LAUNCHED PROJECT RANGER AN EMERGENCY POACHING PREVENTION INITIATIVE WILDERNESS AREAS HAVE BEEN DESERTED AROUND THE WORLD AS TRAVEL AND TOURISM HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO ASTANDSTILL. GUIDES AND RANGERS IN PARKS AND PROTECTED AREAS ARE LEFT WITHOUT PERSONAL INCOME. THIS LEAVES ENDANGERED ANIMALS VULNERABLE TO POACHERS - AND POACHING HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. PROJECT RANGER PROVIDES EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES OF RANGERS AND ANTI--POACHING PERSONNEL TO SUPPORT THOSE ON THE FRONTLINES OF CONSERVATION.

ANTI POACHING INITIATIVES - GREATER ZAMBEZI RIVER VALLEY N 2017 GPF COMMENCED AN INITIATIVE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ZIMBABWE NATIONAL PARKS AUTHORITIES TO COMBAT POACHING IN THE GREATER ZAMBEZI RIVER VALLEY. THE FOUNDATION FUNDS THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF HAVING A TEAM IN THE FIELD INCLUDING CAMP ACCOMMODATION VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT AND THE OPERATING EXPENDITURE BY WAY OF SALARIES STAFF RATIONS AND WELFARE AND UNIFORMS. THIS HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THE REDUCTION IN POACHING IN THE AREA IN PARTICULAR ELEPHANTS AND GAME MEAT. THE FOUNDATION COVERS THE COST OF 12 NATIONAL PARK RANGER COSTS AS WELL AS THE CONSERVATION MANAGER. ACTIVITIES IN 2021 WERE IMPACTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.