Public trust doctrine, research and responsible wildlife management in South Africa

• DOI: 10.4102/abc.v47i1.2217
• Publication Date: 2017-06-29T14:04:11Z
• Authors: Andrew C. Blackmore
• Keywords: Public trust doctrine

A significant proportion of South African biodiversity occurs in extensive private wildlife areas. As such, the continuance these reserves is paramount to conservation country’s biodiversity. The areas are, however, vulnerable being divided into smaller camps as landowners enter new and rapidly growing industry selective breeding intensive management antelope predators. Concerns are raised long-term consequences products impacts this on, inter alia, integrity wildlife, landscapes facilities located in, well reputation a free ranging fair chase hunting destination. Using public trust doctrine foundation, article characterises relationship between environmental law roles played by government regulator, industry, research achieving responsible resource. These relationships seen be finely balanced provision robust science, evidence-based cautious or risk-averse decision-making. It concluded that powerful tool limit unsustainable parochial use on also an improved understanding researchers, would lead greater relevance research, turn sound decision-making ultimately sustainable wildlife.