19 episodes
Beneath the Baobab Jamma International
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- Science
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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Beneath the Baobab, the Conservation and Communities Podcast with Gordon Buchanan.
Right now, up to 1 eighth of the world’s species are at risk of extinction and its down to us to act now, or lose them forever.
In Beneath the Baobab from Jamma International, wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan hosts cutting-edge conversations about conservation work led by communities around the world.
Gordon hears from people living and working alongside wildlife; from elephants to lions, rhinos, wild dogs and endangered plants. In every episode Gordon hears from a unique project that’s seen marginalised community voices brought to the forefront of conservation, with inspiring and empowering stories to tell.
The global conservation movement has never been more urgent in the face of climate change and mass extinction. But there is still much to be learned, and finally the voices, insights and experiences of indigenous peoples are being heard on the international stage.
The places where wildlife and humans touch are not idealistic, harmonious locations, but often have raw edges, blurred boundaries and are fraught with conflict and competition. Furthermore, the external pressures imposed to protect wildlife don’t always support the people whose shoulders this change rests upon.
That’s why we’re looking at examples and hearing from people working and living directly with and within those communities.
In this series learn about Community Based Natural Resources Management, hear from indigenous peoples who are exercising their rights to do innovative work as custodians of resources for generations, then find out how they’ve developed work schemes, governance and management systems that allow them to place a high value on wildlife and build the economic case for conservation.
The future for wildlife and endangered species can be positive, if we are all prepared to listen. Join Gordon and his guests Beneath the Baobab for stories of hope as well as brilliant, radical and innovative ideas for solving the problems faced by humans and wildlife.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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How Government & Community Works Together For Wildlife Coexistence
In this episode, we visit the Mahenye community and Jamanda Conservancy in Zimbabwe where the hope is that tourism revenue will aid those living alongside dangerous, and sometimes life-threatening, wildlife.
The Jamanda Conservancy is the location for the first Communal Area Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) and today boasts an upmarket tourist lodge called Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge. This has resulted in an increase in revenue for the community and employs many of their members. The creation of the conservancy created a 10km border with Gonarezhou National Park and has re-established the ancient elephant migration route between Gonarezhou and Chimanimani in Mozambique.
Maxwell was the victim of a horrific crocodile attack on the Save River, but 20 years after, shares his story and his relationship with wildlife after such a life changing event.
Chief Mahenye represents every family in the community as part of his role. He explains how the challenges of coexisting with wildlife match up with the monetary benefits that come from hunting and tourism.
Liberty Chauke is a CAMPFIRE community association board member and feels that changes in land management, herding and accessibility to water would go a long way to improving the quality of life for the Mahenye.
And Clive Stockil is a wildlife expert and partner in the lodge and warns that unless mechanisms can be put in place to maintain and improve coexistence, the people’s wishes will win over the wildlife.
We speak to them all, beneath the baobab.
Visit the website https://jammainternational.com to explore more international projects.
The video of this episode can be seen here: https://youtu.be/PX-QPUGW0Ws
https://www.communityleadersnetwork.org/tag/mahenye-community/
https://campfirezimbabwe.org
https://chilogorge.com
https://gonarezhou.org
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How Organisations Aid Coexistence
In this episode, we travel to Botswana to discover how innovative methods, and the role of organisations, are aiding the coexistence of people and wildlife. We visit the Chobe enclave, where despite a thriving tourism economy, the wildlife from the nearby National Park can cause life-changing and sometimes devastating challenges to local residents.
Mr Mwezi is a community leader, a chief and a cattle rancher. He describes the challenges he faces from raising his herd in an area prone to drought and at risk by predators – but also the tragic loss of two close relatives.
The Chobe Enclave Community Trust (CECT) is run by Moses Sinchembe and he acknowledges that humans and wildlife need to coexist – and that wild animals in the area can be what he describes as “a blessing and a curse”. He believes that by understanding the ‘language’ of the wildlife that surrounds the people, animals and humans can live alongside each other much more effectively.
Letlhogonlo Kamuti comes from Ncongo (the Ngamiland Council of NGOs), a community based capacity-building organisation and umbrella body for NGOs (non-governmental organisations). He discusses the cultural importance for wildlife in the community, and the opportunities that come from hunting quotas and tourist safaris.
Mubuso Kakambi was born and raised in Kavimba village and in her younger years, feared the wildlife around her. Now working for WildCRU (the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit), she helps her fellow residents see the benefits of coexistence and believes that education is key for the community.
Andrew Mukwati is a community guardian for WildCRU and has built over 70 ‘kraals’, adapting traditional practices to create modern enclosures, designed to protect cattle and other livestock from predators.
Jess Isden is WildCRU’s head of project and has been in Botswana for many years, building trust within communities and helping tip coexistence solutions in local people’s favour. The Trans-Kalahari predator programme is one of many programmes under WildCRU looking at the movement of large predators across the landscape.
We speak to them all, beneath the baobab.
Visit the website https://jammainternational.com to explore more international projects.
The video of this episode can be seen here: https://youtu.be/itb33f8pX7A
https://www.trickleout.net/index.php/directory-pilot/botswana/chobe-enclave-conservation-trust
https://ncongo.org/
https://www.wildcru.org/
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Life After Attacks & Loss Of Livelihood
In this episode, we remain in Namibia to look at the human wildlife conflict that takes place in, and around, conservancies and discover how, despite some horrific stories, governments and communities can come together to create an effective co-existence between humans and wildlife.
We visit the Nakabolelwa Conservancy in the Zambezi region to hear how it can be flooding, rather than drought, that affects farmers – but also how elephants and buffalos not only damage the crops that villagers need to survive, but can also maim and sometimes kill them.
The country’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry & Tourism offers some compensation and support for those affected by human wildlife conflict, there is the acknowledgement that more can – and sometimes needs – to be done.
Both Richard Poniso and a farmer named Michael tell their stories.
Dominic Muemma, operations manager for IRDNC (Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation) in the Zambezi region, explains how they empower local communities to manage their natural resources and help form conservancies, which results in revenue from tourism and the sustainable utilisation of wildlife.
Despite the challenges and some heart-breaking stories in this episode, with 86 conservancies in the country, communities are also able to accrue benefits from the natural resources around them, alongside the tourist trade, and receive 100% of the income to be used in ways they see fit in their local areas.
We speak to them all, beneath the baobab.
Visit the website https://jammainternational.com to explore more international projects.
The video of this episode can be seen here: https://youtu.be/6JX8G7c3Gms
https://www.nacso.org.na/conservancies/nakabolelwa
https://www.irdnc.org.na/
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Leopards, Livestock & Alternative Income Sources
In this second episode, we travel to Namibia and visit the #Gaingu conservancy to explore human wildlife conflict and effective coexistence and mitigation methods.
The landscape around the conservancy is flat and arid, in the shadow of the Spitzkoppe mountain with the main wildlife resources being kudu, gemsbok, springbok and leopard. But these species can cause great problems and hardship for local people.
In 2020, three herders from the conservancy were attacked by a leopard after attempting to protect one of their goats. The affected farmer received no help for this and although translocation was considered for the leopard and her cubs, nothing was implemented – and the animal continues to return periodically, injuring livestock.
We spoke to the victims of the 2020 attack and heard about the challenges of moving livestock to ensure they are fed and watered, whilst protecting them from predators.
In conversation with other members of the community, we heard their solutions and how animals can be an asset both financially and in terms of centuries-old coexistence.
Neville Hendricks is the Conservancy Manager and in his conversation with Gordon Buchanan, explores the themes of trophy hunting, conservation, and how communities can make decisions for – and benefit from – the wildlife around them.
We speak to those on both sides of the conservancy fence, beneath the baobab.
Visit the website https://jammainternational.com to explore more international projects.
The video of this episode can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/@JammaInternational
https://www.nacso.org.na/conservancies/gaingu
https://www.nacso.org.na/sites/default/files/gaingu_fact_sheet.pdf
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Navigating Community Engagement & Compensation
In this second series of Beneath The Baobab, we visit communities living alongside African wildlife – and explore the daily challenges of coexistence with them.
In this episode, we visit the western border of Kruger National Park in South Africa where the species causing the most conflict are buffalo, lion, elephant, hippo and crocodile.
South African National Parks (SANParks) offers a compensation scheme for the loss of livestock as a result of lions, spotted hyena, cheetah, and wild dog – but neither leopards nor crocodiles are included in this scheme. Similarly, there are difficulties in verifying claims for crop raiding; something most commonly caused by elephants and primates - and not compensated for.
Anna Manie Teto is a villager and has lost cattle to crocodiles, whilst Livit shows us how one of his goats was victim to a jackal – and explains how wildlife can damage essential crops.
Anna Niovu describes how calf attacks have affected her – and her family’s life – with her husband having to take a job in Durban to support his family.
Thulani Nghoyama was our guide and translator in South Africa and speaks of hope in the community, despite the challenges they face, and whilst he acknowledges the coexistence problems faced on a daily basis, describes how the people alongside Kruger National Park have a love of the wildlife that surrounds them, and how education is a key part of a positive future.
We finish the episode with a conversation with Bhili Rackson, who has grown up in the area. Starting as a tracker, he now runs a lodge and describes what he believes are the financial and cultural benefits; both at the lodge and in the wider community.
We speak to them all, beneath the baobab.
Visit the website https://jammainternational.com to explore more international projects.
The video of this episode can found at the website, or on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@JammaInternational
https://www.sanparks.org/
https://africageographic.com/stories/compensation-for-damage-causing-animals-near-kruger-np/
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Beneath The Baobab returns
Beneath The Baobab - the communities and conservation podcast from Jamma International - returns with a new series on Thursday 7th March.
Presented once again by documentary maker, Gordon Buchanan, we get even closer to the coexistence challenge and explore the issues by visiting communities who live alongside African wildlife; taking in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia.
Click follow on your podcast app to make sure you don’t miss an episode - and find out more about Jamma International at www.jammainternational.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.