not so much "buying up" but taking over

[Paul Boote]

everywhere. Seems that you don't go and buy a very large piece of somewhere for yourself anymore (for the good of the planet and its people, of course), you merely offer your "expertise" -- with the same result.

Story here of a Dutch oil tycoon -- known to some Scots readers (wanted to reintroduce wolves to the Highlands awhile back) and to some of our fishers, I believe (offered a charity auction lot of some fishing he has somewhere, I seem to remember) -- doing his bit for the "gameparks" of Southern Africa.

Hmm. Now, you might not know this, but there is an American NeoCon / Free Enterprise (and very often oil-industry-connected) way of thinking that holds that all National Parks (in the States, in New Zealand, indeed everywhere) should be privatized. Hmm. They might just be rather more "efficient" for this management shift (MAYBE...), but I am sure as hell worried for the local people. Seen similar stuff happen elsewhere, in the past, you see -- great for the foreign "partners" and their well-schooled kids looking for the ultimate, exotic gap-year jolly; not so great, usually, for the local people they are supposed to working alongside as equals...

For some, it appears, now, owning rather more than just a generous portion of the world's land and natural resources is simply not enough; it seems that they might very well want the lot. A new imperialism, maybe...? I don't know. But, whatever it is, it worries me.

Cave canem.


www.sustdev.org/industry.news/2003/18.06.03-3.shtml

[Willie Gunn]

Yes I remember him, introduce wolves to keep the red deer population down. I think the wolves had to wear collars so the sheep and cattle would know they were coming. Brilliant just brilliant

[The Famous Grouse]

The African conservation position, in general, would be a little less precarious, and they would be looking a lot less toward Dutch tycoons for help, if they would stop thier tribal warfare for a few hours. Or even better, decades.

Honestly, with the US about to be dragged in to refree yet another stupid African tribal war, it really burns my butt. One can hardly blame the evil European colonial powers and the Imperialst Americans for the tribal killing fields that make up about 75 percent of the African continent today. Where lies the African responsibility in all of this?

And why is it we never see the German or the Dutch governments (or any of those other EuroBigmouths) stepping in? Either as conservation or peacekeeping agencies, take your pick.

[rockhound]

This is what the BBC had to say about this a few weeks ago.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/africa/2994568.stm

I was interested to see that the Malawian park that van Vlissingen (not an oil tycoon by the way, Makro is a wholesale chain) is the Majete. The Majete is at present in a real mess and has been for ages, this will by no means be an area where they can just jump in and start profiting at the expense of the local people. This area will require a big investment to attract the foreign tourists they're after, the area is remote, the camp and roads will need to be rebuilt and most importantly, a lot of wildlife will need to be re-introduced since the area is heavily poached. Essentially, he's taking on a basketcase.

Now, you simply CAN'T operate in this area without the support of the local people - you have to employ and help the people from the surrounding villages or day to dat operation will rapidly become impossible - it's just the way it works over there.

OK, so we've got a guy planning to invest a lot of money into a remote area in order to rehabilitate a conservational wreck. In order be successful he is going to have to work with the local people and (hopefully) pass along the idea that the wildlife is worth more alive than dead and that trees are not a only a fuel source.

No-one is claiming to be working alongside the local people as equals - this is about frantically trying to preserve a few pockets of African wilderness and I'm afraid that one of the most effective ways is by throwing large sums of money at it to make people sit up and notice. Not pretty, I know.

I apologise in advance if I don't get further involved in this debate (assuming it takes off!). I'm going to be away for a week but I'll be interested to read any responses when I get back.

[Paul Boote]

These links will tell you more about the entrepreneur and, more latterly, philanthropist and conservationist concerned:


www.africatoday.com/nov02/nov02ekwonderful.htm


www.countrylife.co.uk/prprop/conholt_park.htm


www.timberwolfinformation.org/info/archieve/newspapers/viewnews.cfm?ID=167


www.wildtrout.org/WTT/support/auction.asp


So many fingers, so many pies, so much to "save" before its all gone...