South Africa’s newly gazetted Black and White Rhino Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) 2025-2035 marks a shift from traditional, protection-focused conservation to a broader model that links rhino conservation with community participation, economic inclusion and long-term sustainability.
Published by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in April under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, the revised plan replaces earlier species-specific strategies with a single national framework for black and white rhino conservation.
The plan was developed through consultation with more than 700 stakeholders, including communities, private rhino owners, traditional leaders and conservation NGOs.
Sam Ferreira, Specialist Scientist: Large Mammals at SANParks, told Tourism Update that the plan broadens rhino conservation beyond anti-poaching and biological management.
“A key element of the Rhino BMP is that, apart from strengthening the traditional innovative biological management, which is the backbone of rhino conservation (of which much expertise is also within SANParks staff), and traditional rhino protection, it also emphasises approaches that recognise the multiple values that rhinos have and, importantly, building and relying on stronger partnerships between government, private enterprises and local people,” said Ferreira.
While anti-poaching remains central to conservation efforts, the revised plan also places greater emphasis on community empowerment, demand management and broader participation linked to the biodiversity economy.
According to the BMP, more than 10 000 rhinos were poached in South Africa between 2008 and the end of 2023. Although annual poaching figures have declined since peaking in 2014, more than 300 rhinos are still poached each year.
Ferreira said the revised approach could also positively influence the safari and visitor experience.
“The Rhino BMP has explicit impact statements and one can anticipate the rhino populations will improve but, more importantly, not just in number but also in how rhinos contribute to the socio-economic aspirations of South Africa and the cultural values and national pride.”
He said the outlook for rhino conservation is positive, particularly because the plan was developed through a more inclusive, bottom-up process.
“The aspirations thus reflect what South African citizens are seeking and embrace enormous cultural values, national pride and social cohesion values of rhinos that were previously not recognised in BMPs.”
