The Foreign Service Journal, October 2018

38 OCTOBER 2018 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL protected areas have a critical role to play in the future of wildlife. The program’s activities in the trans- boundary area of South Africa and Mozambique address wildlife trafficking in southern Africa and contribute to the United States National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking. Effective law enforcement and a strong judiciary are still neces- sary to deter and discourage illegal behavior. To do so requires viable government institutions with offi- cials skilled in wildlife trafficking prevention, detection and appre- hension; crime scene management; investigation; and expert prosecu- tion capabilities, as well as appropriate penalties. Because corrup- tion is so closely related to organized crime activities, strategies to eliminate corruption are essential. Khetha provides support through research, training and tool development. For example, Khetha conducts research into exist- ing support mechanisms for rangers; develops and implements ranger leadership and well-being training; provides training in and testing of a restorative justice approach; develops an accred- ited curriculum and training program in Portuguese for field rang- ers in Mozambique; offers needed infrastructure and equipment, such as wildlife crime scene kits; and develops strategic commu- nications materials based on behavior change principles. Khetha will also facilitate and support collaboration and the sharing of information and lessons learned between South Afri- can and Mozambican law enforcement agencies and judiciary, recognizing that better law enforcement will not in itself provide the solution for the poaching of threatened species like rhinos and elephants. Systemic Change Is Needed The level of systemic change needed to protect these species requires the support of communities and the restoration and building of strong relationships between these communities and park management. Yet each community in this vast region is dif- ferent. Along the borders of the GLTFCA, people are diverse. They have different cultures, demographics, languages, livelihoods and levels of access to basic services such as employment, healthcare and education. Their interaction with wildlife and park manage- ment also varies. Thus, their perceptions and attitudes toward protected areas and wildlife differ. For Khetha and other initiatives to succeed, it is important to genuinely understand these relationships and challenges, and enable communities to benefit from protected areas and take part in the decision-making around wildlife management, instead of only bearing the costs of living with wildlife. Khetha is therefore supporting partnerships between communities, protected areas, local organizations, national governments and the private sector to address the different sociopolitical and economic issues within these communities, thus allowing them to choose to become long-term supporters of protected areas and wildlife. n It is important to enable communities to benefit from protected areas and take part in the decision-making around wildlife management. A woman sells local produce grown around Kruger National Park.