In 1999, PHASA established a Wildlife Conservation Fund.

Fund’s Mission:

• Establish a financial resource which will be used to assist PHASA and the professional hunting industry in its efforts to promote and maintain the wise consumptive use of the natural resources of South Africa.

Objectives:

• Secure the future of professional hunting.
• Fund projects and support key issues vitally important to the professional hunting industry.
• Fund accredited research projects.
• Assist with the funding of provincial nature conservation representatives in their task of regulating the professional hunting industry.

How it Works

Funds are obtained by means of a levy implemented on each animal hunted by an overseas client (US$10 or Euro10 per animal).
The client, on completion of the hunt, will pay the levy to the hunting outfitter, who in turn pays the monies over to the Conservation Fund.
The Fund is currently supported by PHASA members on a voluntary basis.
The Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa’s Wildlife Conservation Fund (an Association incorporated under Section 21 of the Companies Act) was incorporated on January 6, 2003.

Fund Directors and Officers - 2012

Hermann Meyeridricks - Chairman
Cecil Corringham
Nicole da Silva
Eduard Katzke
Paul Stones
Dries van Coller
Wiaan van der Linde
Hans Vermaak


Contributers to the PHASA Conservation and Empowerment Fund from 01 October 2010 - 30 September 2011

John Abraham - Madubula Safaris
Kevin Ball - Shi-Awela Safaris
Harry Claasens - H Claassens Safaris
Coenraad Vermaak Safaris
Clayton Comins - Umdende Lifestyle Safaris
Dallas Safari Club
Stewart Dorrington - Melorani Safaris
Duke Safaris
Hennie de Jager - Wilton Valley Hunting
Jan du Plessis - Select Safaris
Melville du Plessis Sr. - Antelope for Africa Safaris
Ernest Dyason - Spear Safari Company
Jacques Greeff - East Cape Plains Game Safaris
Andrew Harvey - Andrew Harvey Safaris
Graham Jones - Graham Jones Safaris
Eduard Katzke - Katzke Safaris
Richard Lemmer - Safari Afrika
Lifeform Taxidermy
Hermann Meyeridricks
Johan Pieterse - Johan Pieterse Safaris
Peter Ruddle - Zulu Afrika Safaris
Safari Club International
Paul Stones - Paul Stones Safaris Africa
Stormberg Elangeni Safaris
Toyota SA
Wiaan van der Linde - Wintershoek Safaris
Wikus van der Merwe - Batsomi Safaris
Zululand Hunters

PRESS RELEASE - September 2010

Issued by the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa

Contact Details: Tel 012-667-2048; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; www.phasa.co.za

PHASA JOINS CRUSADE TO SECURE SA’S THREATENED RHINOS

In joining the crusade to try and help secure South Africa’s rhino populations against poachers, the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA), this month donated R160 000 to the Wildlands Conservation Trust to support current efforts towards alleviating the tremendous pressure that poaching is placing on this iconic species.

This donation was made in direct response to the call made at the recent Lead SA Rhino Summit for environmental groups to work together to conserve rhino. “With close on 200 rhinos having been poached in national parks and game reserves this year alone - the highest level seen in the country in 15 years – PHASA’s donation to Wildlands will go directly towards the conservation of black and white rhino in the Somkhanda Game Reserve and in expanding rhino habitat throughout northern KwaZulu Natal,” said Adri Kitshoff, Chief Executive Officer of PHASA.

Created by the Gumbi community after a successful land claim in 2005, the reserve comprises 16,000ha of land which was consolidated into a new conservation area with assistance from the Wildlands Conservation Trust and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF-SA).  This area represents one of the last remaining areas suitable for Black Rhino range expansion in KwaZulu-Natal. In acknowledgement of this, WWF-SA together with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, introduced a small black rhino population into the reserve. The population is doing extremely well, with proof of two new calves being picked up this month through motion detection cameras.

The area being supported has been incorporated under the biodiversity stewardship program and will be proclaimed as a Nature Reserve later this year. This will be the first reserve to be proclaimed on restituted land and represents a major achievement in ‘conservation by the people’. Wildlands currently employs a dedicated rhino conservation team who not only monitor the rhino population inside the reserve, but who also serve as ambassadors for the rhino population in the neighbouring communities.

As the largest professional hunting association in the world, PHASA actively participates in the formulation of conservation policy in South Africa in partnership with government and non-governmental organizations and in consultation with an international network of affiliated bodies. The latest donation to Wildlands builds on this partnership and illustrates a commitment to conserving biodiversity and bringing additional land under formal conservation.

“Over the past four years we have raised in excess of R5-million which has directly supported the training of protected areas managers at the Southern African Wildlife College and more recently we have contributed some R350 000 to anti-poaching efforts. This, we believe clearly demonstrates PHASA’s commitment to conservation and to the ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources through appropriate wildlife management,” said Kitshoff.

Issued by: PHASA, Adri Kitshoff
Contact: 012 667 2048 / 083 650 0442
Date:   17 September 2010

Photo 1 (from left/right)

Hans Vermaak: Director of the Fund & Executive Committee Member
Adri Kitshoff: CEO, PHASA
Roelie Kloppers, Programme Manager, Wildlands Conservation Trust