I got a job!

... with African Parks, a non-profit organization whose Development office headquarters are located in nearby Lonehill. I officially start in January but I have already been involved in a project to help determine their long term technology needs.  

Buffalo and egrets - Akagera, Rwanda [© 2010 Stephen Cunliffe]

African Parks takes total responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities in Africa. They combines world-class conservation practice with business expertise and they place emphasis on achieving financial sustainability of the parks by combining long-term donor funding with tourism revenues, related business enterprise and payment for ecosystem services, which all serve as a foundation for economic development and poverty alleviation.

They believe (and so do I) that making wildlife parks socially and economically viable, particularly for the benefit of local communities, will contribute to their survival in the face of competing forms of land use.

An aerial view of an elephant herd - Zakouma, Chad [© 2013 Michael Viljoen]

African Parks currently manages seven parks in six African countries – Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Zambia. The total area under management covers 4.1 million hectares, an area as large as The Netherlands.

A landscape of the sunset - Majete, Malawi [© 2012 Horst Klemm]

Their objective is to become the leading player in protected area management on the African continent. By 2020 African Parks aims to have responsibility for a portfolio of 15 parks covering an area of 5–7 million hectares. Because of the geographic spread and representation of different ecosystems, this will be one of the most ecologically diverse portfolios of parks in the world.

Since moving to South Africa, I had been looking for an organization with a comprehensive conservation model like African Parks. They are doing incredible things, miraculous things even. I believe African Parks can make a major difference in community development and positively impact the effects of Africa's shrinking resources and rapidly decreasing wildlife.

I am really looking forward to getting to work in 2014!