Livestock- and Game industry forum on damage causing animals

Livestock- and Game Producers' Organisations had a meeting recently in Port Elizabeth with the objective of establishing an Industry Forum to collectively address the problem of damage causing animals. An agreement between the organizations was subsequently formalised by the establishment of the National Damage Causing Animal Forum (NDCAF)

Petrus de Wet from NWGA will chair the forum. The establishment of the Forum follows on statistics that was released by ALPRU, stationed at the University of Free State, indicating the biggest stock losses in SA history as a result of damage causing animals over the past year. An estimated R1.108 billion is involved. Representatives from the Red Meat-, Wool-, Mohair- and Game Industries were involved in establishing the Forum, which will focus on management of damage causing animals where predation of one animal on another is involved. An invitation to Milk- and Ostrich producers will also be extended to join the Forum.

The RPO represents around 35 000 producers, producing meat to the value of R6,3 billion/annum (small stock) ; NWGA with 10 000 members producing wool to the value of R2,0 billion/annum (mainly for export) ; Game producers (16 000 members) with the value of their product at R4,2 billion/annum and Mohair producers (900 members) producing mohair to the value of R620 million / annum (mainly for export).

The working group has the objectives to:

i) Influence policy and legislation, a process already in progress and managed by the Department of Environmental and Water Affairs.

ii) Handle media affairs collectively as far as possible, on behalf of the respective organisations involved.

The Steering Committee is made up of one representative from each organisation and will convene quarterly. Urgent matters will be handled through electronic liaison as far as possible. The Forum aims to convene bi-annually.

The Forum is prepared to cooperate and talk to any individual, group or institution that is committed to positively contribute towards workable solutions to the problem of damage causing animals, as well as to credible scientific institutions and –individuals involved with research on this matter. The Forum is, however, not willing to liaise or work with any pressure group, institution or individual advocating or promoting boycotts of products produced by members of this Forum

SA producers are requested to refer media matters related to damage causing animals to their respective commodity organisations, or directly to the Secretariat of the Forum currently hosted by the NWGA. Individual producers are, however, free to handle enquiries related to damage causing animals at their own discretion should they prefer to do so. The respective organisations involved in the Forum may also handle issues related to the problem themselves that might be unique to their industry, or not appropriately addressed collectively through the group.