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Beneath the Baobab

The Conservation and Communities Podcast with Gordon Buchanan. From Jamma International


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  • 2. Leopards, Livestock & Alternative Income Sources

    51:07
    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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  • 1. Navigating Community Engagement & Compensation

    49:27
    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/
  • Beneath The Baobab returns

    02:05
    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
  • 12. Communities, Conservation and Change in Scotland’s Wild Places ft. Mike Daniels

    38:04
    "We are all dependent upon the air that we breathe, the water we drink, the soils that we grow our food on. To mismanage them and treat them badly as we have done for centuries: we can't go on that way."In a special final episode for the series, Gordon meets up with Mike Daniels of the John Muir Trust in Scotland.They take a walk through the beautiful landscape of East Schiehallion in Perthshire, where the Trust has recently completed a million pound investment into restoring a footpath and visitor amenities on the mountain.Gordon and Mike discuss the unique nature of land ownership in Scotland and how that might be changing as more communities begin to take on stewardship of the land. Mike also shares schemes that have been put in place to restore a pre-Victorian version of nature and biodiversity to some of the areas they manage.They discuss the complex issue of deer management and the impact of burgeoning populations on animal health and trees, as well as how rewilding can involve communities and begin to address the imbalances and problems created by past exploitative land practises in Scotland.The pair finish their walk with a conversation about the proposed Carbon Emissions Land Tax and how this pioneering new legislation might support land use models that allow people and nature to co-exist.   Visit the website https://jammainternational.com to explore more international projects.  LINKS: You can watch the video for this filmed podcast episode herehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2v2n4s9wA5_XjhzoxqjWSQhttps://jammainternational.com/podcast-2/ Find out about The John Muir Trust https://www.johnmuirtrust.org East Schiehallion https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/about-us/where-we-work/east-schiehallion
  • 11. How Community Conservation is a Mechanism for Democracy ft. Dr Rodgers Lubilo

    32:45
    Dr Rodgers Lubilo grew up in a village next to South Luangwa National Park, Zambia where wildlife, human life and livelihoods have always coexisted.It was in the mid-90s when Rodgers became interested in local CBNRM initiatives. He then led a movement that convinced his family and village leaders to follow in experimental and innovative sustainable use programmes.As a pioneer of CBNRM in Zambia, Rodgers has been a driver of innovative change that has swept across conservation projects and fieldwork in Southern Africa. He says the biggest impact has been in seeing governments recognise the knowledge and expertise communities have in managing their local wildlife, and that this has been a driver of democracy and regeneration.In this episode of Beneath the Baobab, he shares his journey from farmer’s son to Director of CBNRM Programmes at the Frankfurt Zoological Society Zambia and Chair of the Community Leaders’ Network, where he continues to champion new talent, thinkers and practitioners in the conservation space.He explains the kinds of benefits and services he’s seen come to communities – including his own – since sustainable use models have boomed in the region. We also hear case studies from some of Rodgers' colleagues, recorded at the IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress.Visit the website https://jammainternational.com to explore more international projects.https://www.southluangwa.comhttps://communityleadersnetwork.orghttps://apacongress.africa
  • 10. From Fortress Conservation to Locally-Powered Wildlife Policy ft. Malidadi Langa

    42:04
    From government office to grass-roots campaigning, Malidadi Langa has long been a leading force in Malawian wildlife policy. In this episode he chats with Gordon about how he’s used his experience in economics to become an international voice in rural development and decentralisation.They discuss the problematic impact of “fortress” conservation policies that historically isolated communities from their traditional resources. And Malidadi explains the journey of the community development association within the Kasungu National Park, known for its elephant population near the Zambian border.He also discusses the challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic for the park’s once thriving foreign tourist trade and shares actions from this year’s African Protected Areas Congress in Kigali.Today Malidadi continues to represent Malawi in the Southern Africa Community Leaders Network and advocates for conservation initiatives that prioritise local investment, respect human rights and support sustainable livelihoods. Visit the website https://jammainternational.com to explore more international projects.  LINKS: Malidadi on Twitter @MalidadiL https://www.malawitourism.com/regions/central-malawi/kasungu-national-park/ https://communityleadersnetwork.orgLINKS: Malidadi on Twitter @MalidadiL https://www.malawitourism.com/regions/central-malawi/kasungu-national-park/ https://communityleadersnetwork.org
  • 9. How to Balance Representation of Sustainable Use ft. Professor Adam Hart

    44:31
    This time, Gordon chats with scientist, conservationist and broadcaster Professor Adam Hart about how we can move international public understanding of sustainable use forwards.Adam shares his story, from young entomologist to sustainable use convert and co-director of a successful volunteer programme in South Africa.He also discusses the wider consideration of habitat when working to conserve wildlife whilst benefitting from its resources.Adam has developed a rhino-thick skin when taking to social media to challenge misinformation around sustainable use in conservation and says strong reactions and harassment on these forums can be a deterrent to academics advocating for these approaches. He does however share how he’s been watching coverage become more positive as public understanding increases.  Adam and Gordon also discuss the role of media more widely in representing complex issues such as hunting and natural resource use, causing Gordon to reflect upon his own work as a wildlife filmmaker.And we hear from Adam’s colleague Lynne Mactavish, who shares her passion for wildlife. She also reveals the tough day-to-day decisions she makes as custodian of the Nkombi volunteer conservation programme founded by her father.Visit the website https://jammainternational.com to explore more international projects.https://www.nkombi.com@AdamHartScienceAdam discusses wildlife during the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020Listen to ‘Big Game Theory’, Adam’s BBC Radio 4 Documentary about hunting