The Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) and the South African Wildlife College (SAWC) held talks on the 17 November 2006 to develop a partnership to offer Field Ranger training at the College.

A number of principles on the provision of equipment and operating procedures were agreed to have also been included in a formal Agreement between the GRAA and SAWC.

The most important decisions taken were:

1. A tented training facility consisting of ten safari tents and other basic equipment supplied by the GRAA to the value of R200 000.00 will be erected by the SAWC on site at the SAWC.
2. The SAWC will be the GRAA’s preferred training provider making available course accreditation and assessment together with all other infrastructure on site at the SAWC at rates that will be determined by agreement.
3. The SAWC will manage the tented training facility on behalf of the GRAA and utilise the facility when not being used by GRAA to the benefit of both parties.
4. SAWC will levy a management fee for the up-keep of the facility inclusive of insurance, payable by GRAA monthly.
5. WWF South Africa will provide the funds to build this facility to the amount of R178 000.00.
6. Income generated from SAWC use of the tented facility will be calculated on a 50/50 principle for accommodation used.
7. Initially there will be five courses will be offered annually for 20 Learners per course totalling 100 participants per year. Of this number at least 25% of the places on each course will be offered to unemployed persons to prepare them to apply for field ranger positions in formal nature conservation authorities or private wildlife / game reserves, provided that sponsorship of such trainees is available.

The SAWC is situated in a natural Lowveld environment having access to conservation training areas both on site and in close proximity to the site that is situated in a Contractual SANPark. The College gate is located 10km west of the Orpen Gate to the Kruger National Park; the College itself is 2km north on a good gravel road.

The facility will consist of ten Safari Tents on concrete slabs with a veranda and will be basically equipped with three beds, steel cupboards and chairs per tent. Although it is envisaged to build en suite bathrooms at a later stage, a communal ablution facility will be available.

THE TOTAL COST WOULD COVER 35 DAYS ASSUMING 20 LEARNERS:

ITEM DETAILS	COST
Administrative costs
Administration & communication (Telephone, fax, email, internet, stationary, photocopies)	R 3,500.00
Room and equipment rentals @ R450.00 pd (lecture room, audio visual equipment, training equipment, access to training area)	R 13,500.00
Staff costs @ R240.00 pd (dedicated staff member to coordinate training arrangements during the course)	R 7,200.00
Living Expenses for participants and trainers
Food (3 meals a day for 20 participants & 2 facilitators for 35 days @ R75 per day)	R 57,750.00
Housing (on-site 20 students and 2 facilitators @ R60 per person per night)	R 46,200.00
Travel Expenses for participants and trainers
Road travel (Trainers transport costs, student field trips)	R 9,000.00
Materials
Manuals @ R150.00 per manual	R 3,000.00
Training consumables (Ammunition, camping supplies, clothing and footwear)	R 16,500.00
Other Expenses
Trainer fees @ R1750.00 pd	R 52,500.00
Total course cost (assuming 20 learners) Excl VAT	R 209,150.00
As a registered non profit organizations GRAA & SAWC are VAT exempt on training activities
Cost per learner	R 10,457.50
Cost per learner per day	R 298.79
Cost of five courses	R 1,045,750.00

The current R299.00 per Learner per Day totalling R10 457.50 (rounded off at R10 500.00) is an all inclusive course-fee per participant. The GRAA is seeking donor funding for bursaries for a number of places on each of the courses totalling R1,050,000.00.

Donors will be assisting young people in their training needs to commence a career in nature conservation in the formal and private sector. The bursaries will also assisting the potential employers in filling vacancies with trained people so that the valuable natural and wildlife assets in the protected areas are effectively conserved.
Potential donors can:

1. Fund the total project, or
2. Per course, or
3. Part of a course, or
4. Single persons can also be sponsored.

This course is a skills program of the following of the National Certificate in Conservation Resource Guardianship:

Skills program title: Field Ranger (Unarmed) Registration No: CSV/FldRng/2/0043 (NQF level 2).

A learner who has achieved this qualification will be able to perform a multiple set of roles in assisting with the maintenance of the integrity of a conserved area, by integrating operational knowledge and skills.

On achieving this qualification the learner will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of nature conservation issues and conduct activities in an environmentally sensitive manner.
2. Carry out designated conservation security practices according to a plan, e.g. conduct routine security patrols in order to deter, detect and combat illegal activities within an area of responsibility.
3. Gather and report accurately on local and keystone wildlife species information to be used for population management purposes.
4. Demonstrate in their behaviour and lifestyle, a set of values and ethics centring on respect for self, others and the environment.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of HIV/AIDS and its implications.
6. Implement sound occupational health and safety practices in the workplace according to a plan.
7. Use firearms competently*

* The course does not include the cost of the SASSETA rifle handling unit standards which is the legal requirement for learners to be able to handle firearms. This is 5 days training at an extra cost of around R2,000.00 per learner. During the course air rifles will be used to simulate rifle handling procedures.

Some of the Learners who have excelled themselves will be invited to complete Module II as part of a later phase of training

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has recognised that travel and tourism are important economic drivers of the 21st century. In September 1999, the South African Government launched a R180 million Tourism Action Plan as a blueprint for international marketing of South Africa. Foreign tourist numbers are growing by some 10% per annum. The tourism economy is based almost exclusively on eco-tourism, Africa’s natural wonders. The burgeoning eco-tourism industry is the greatest job creator in Africa (8 jobs created with every one tourist bed filled) and provides massive economic development. All of this would be of no value without those well trained and equipped Rangers in the field, protecting the integrity of their areas and its wildlife for the tourist to enjoy.

BACKGROUND
The Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) was founded in 1970 as a non-racial, non-political organisation. The Game Rangers Association of Africa is a properly constituted association and has been registered as a non-profit organisation and has been granted exemption from taxes on donations.

Although now thirty years old, the Association and with the right support, can soon reach its full potential as a major force in the conservation arena of Africa.

The Game Rangers Association of Africa believes that the continued future existence of Africa’s wilderness and its wildlife is ultimately and irrevocably linked to the expertise, ethics and motivation of those tasked with the “on the ground” protection and management of this priceless asset. This involves inter alia the promotion of and the sustainable utilization of natural resources, ecotourism, community involvement and environmental education. The Ranger in Africa has many real needs, but without relevant training the Ranger will fail, and Africa’s priceless natural and cultural heritage will be lost forever.

During the Third World Congress of the International Ranger Federation held in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, during September 2000, a Memorandum of African Continental Understanding was signed by all of the African delegates present. This Protocol acknowledges the Game Rangers Association of Africa as the voice of the Ranger in Africa, and binds the signatories into forming National Associations within their own countries, which Associations will be affiliated to the Game Rangers Association of Africa.

The Game Rangers Association of Africa currently has a membership of over 600 from all over Africa, which is growing steadily, and will grow even more rapidly as National Associations are formed throughout Africa. Although the majority of members live and work in Southern Africa, members come from all over Africa and can even be found on all continents outside of Africa. Membership includes well-known international figures of Dr Ian Player of South Africa and Dr Ian Khama of Botswana.

The work of a Game Ranger is the safekeeping of wild game, in the natural communities and native landscapes where these animals have always lived.

This is a custodianship which guards the future genetic diversity inherited from the past. For in these wild places is the testament of the laws of the Earth. Here is the insurance of the loss of matter essential to life’s survival on this planet. No other motive can displace or alter these.

As an executor of the natural estates, the Game Ranger may not diminish its assets, nor be party to their depletion. There are terms to this duty that are known, and there are those still to be learnt. Within these limits only may he move; since natural law determines them

. To seek their understanding and to act in its light is part of the trust that he accepts.

The Game Rangers Association of Africa commits itself to the preservation, conservation and where possible, restoration of Africa’s bio-diversity and the continued existence of its wilderness.

The Future of conservation in Africa and the preservation of its wilderness lie in the hands of its natural resource managers and field rangers. The Game Rangers Association of Africa is committed to ensure that those responsible for the future of conservation in Africa are dedicated, motivated, skills-trained, ethical and professional in the execution of their duties.

The objectives of the Association are to: -

1. ensure that Game Rangers are adequately trained and equipped to carry out their primary responsibility of maintaining the integrity of wilderness areas, protected areas and other natural areas in which they work;
2. contribute information and advice to those organisations which train Game Rangers to ensure that their training is appropriate and professional;
3. represent present and past Game Rangers and their interests in order to ensure the highest standards and credibility of the profession;
4. give professional, objective and responsible advice, opinions and information on the game ranging profession;
5. facilitate the establishment and maintenance of contact and communication between Game Rangers, past and present, throughout the world and especially in Africa;
6. assess, support and promote wildlife conservation management throughout Africa and the rest of the world;
7. promote the implementation of appropriate protected area management systems as required by international conventions and agreements, and that their effectiveness be assessed and reported on throughout Africa;
8. aim to ensure that policy and legislation relating to wilderness areas, protected areas and other natural areas in Africa remain compatible to the values of the GRAA as expressed in the Manifesto, Vision and Mission of the Association;
9. affiliate with other organisations which share common goals, ethics and objectives;
10. actively promote support for the Association;
11. manage the affairs of the Association so as not to carry on any profit making activities not relating to its objectives, or to participate in any business, profession or occupation carried on by its members, or to provide financial assistance, premises, continuous services or facilities to its members for the purpose of carrying on any business, profession or occupation by them;
12. ensure that the activities of the Association will be carried on with the sole purpose of promoting its objectives.

Game Rangers are wildlife managers and the field force in Africa, working at the “coal face” of conservation. In Africa the prime responsibility of the Game Ranger is to ensure the territorial integrity of the protected area under his/her management.

Their tasks are multi-faceted and include research and monitoring, game capture and introductions, population management, burning programs, infrastructure and equipment maintenance, public relations, environmental education, community liaison and involvement, financial and human resource planning and administration.

Theirs is often a difficult, dangerous and thankless task for which they receive very little remuneration and recognition and seemingly minuscule support both morally and financially.

For their dedication many have in the past, and no doubt will in future, pay with their lives.

BACKGROUND
The Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) was established in 1996 as a project of WWF (SA) after close cooperation with all interested and affected parties in Southern Africa, including government, conservation agencies, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The establishment of SAWC was funded by Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) and for the last 10 years the College has been training natural resource managers from national and private protected areas throughout Africa. Recently, the Peace Parks Foundation have taken over the responsibility of SAWC and with their support, the College proudly continues to strive toward capacity building of conservation staff in Africa, with a special focus on the newly emerging trans-frontier conservation areas.

The SAWC is an independent SADC training institution and does not receive a government subsidy and is a registered Non-profit Organization. The SAWC is a SADC recognised centre of specialization and is fully Accreditation by THETA (Tourism, Hospitality and Sport, Education and Training Authority, Provider Accreditation No 613/P/000001/2004). Furthermore the SAWC is a lead provider for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) in both Conservation and Tour Guiding for in the Limpopo-Mpumalanga Provinces. It is also a member of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as a national non governmental organization.

VISION

To be a regionally recognised centre of excellence in conservation education and training in Africa.

MISSION STATEMENT

The main objective of the company is to provide people from Africa with the required motivation and relevant skills to manage and conserve their protected areas and associated fauna and flora on a sustainable basis in cooperation with local communities.

KEY STRATEGIES

1. To provide and develop high quality, informative and inspiring courses for natural heritage managers and other interested parties.
2. To strive for recognition as a regional rather than a national institution by working closely with other Southern African training initiatives.
3. To provide accreditation of training courses that will attain recognition in their own right but will also complement and link into the spectrum of protected area natural resource management training options available in Southern Africa.
4. Use training as a vehicle for the exchange of ideas, information and expertise in order to promote co-operation between conservation organizations and cultures.
5. Be a dynamic, flexible and service-orientated organization, which aims to become a role model for socially and environmentally responsible development.
6. Promote an integrated approach to the management of natural resource and protected areas that is appropriate to Africa, focusing especially on the role of local communities and other stakeholders in the sustainable management of resources.

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