Public invited to comment on management plan for lions

© Margret Meyer – 123RF.com

On Friday, 17 April, the Minister of Environmental Affairs published the BMP for the African lion in Government Gazette No. 38706.

This is the first national BMP compiled for lions in South Africa. The plan has been developed in close consultation with an encompassing group of stakeholders since 2013. The plan will be reviewed at five-year intervals to ensure it is appropriate for the circumstances at the time.

The BMP allows for the monitoring and review of actions taken to conserve species in the wild amidst a changing environment. It also requires that all management plans compiled by conservation authorities are approved by the Minister for public participation and implementation respectively.

Purpose of plan

The main purpose of the proposed plan is outlined in the vision for the South African lion population. Through the existence of stable, viable and ecologically functional populations of managed and wild lions, along with well-managed captive populations that have minimal negative conservation impacts, lions will provide key opportunities for biodiversity conservation, economic development, social benefits and improved management capacity.

The plan makes a clear distinction between wild lions in national parks, managed wild lions in smaller reserves and captive lions.

The key objectives of the BMP for lions are to:

• improve the conservation status of lions within a broader conservation context, considering the respective roles of wild, managed wild and captive populations;
  
• encourage the development of opportunities for economic and social benefit from responsibly managed wild and captive lion populations;
  
• ensure legislative alignment both provincially and nationally and improve capacity to implement legislation effectively;
  
• establish a lion forum or working group; and
  
• align the BMP with lion conservation plans in neighbouring countries and link with international working groups.