SCT World Youth Rhino Summit Information Booklet 9 July
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In September 2014, the world will hear the voices of the youth speaking out against rhino poaching and the decimation of other endangered species at the inaugural ! WORLD YOUTH RHINO SUMMIT 21-23 September 2014 (incorporating World Rhino Day) ! Centenary Centre, iMfolozi Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa ! ! ! Contact: Email: [email protected] Website: www.youthrhinosummit.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/YouthRhinoSummit ! Twitter: www.twitter.com/WYRhinoSummit SCT/FINAL/10/7/14 ! Wildlife crime is the fourth About the World Youth Rhino Summit most profitable illegal trade in Wildlife crime has exploded in recent years to meet the increasing demand for the world after drugs, arms rhino horn, elephant ivory and tiger products, particularly in Asia. The rhino and human trafficking, poaching crisis affecting South Africa and other African and Asian rhino range estimated at US$19 billion states is now recognised as a worldwide wildlife emergency. The brutal killing of rhinos - particularly in South Africa - is being driven by global criminal syndicates, many with links to international terrorism and narcotics cartels. Equally as important as fighting the front-line battles, improving anti-poaching operations and global law enforcement efforts to counter wildlife crime, is the need for a critical mass of support that will drive informed global awareness of the value of rhinos, not just economically but also their value to Africa’s and Asia’s heritage and biodiversity in the decades to come. This is taking shape and significantly: tens of thousands of young people !in South Africa, other African states and internationally are calling for rhino poaching to be stopped. The inaugural World Youth Rhino Summit will bring together 130 young people aged 15-17years from South Africa, other African countries affected by wildlife poaching, consumer countries in Asia and other parts of the world. The delegates and their teacher-chaperones will interact with conservation leaders in the symbolic iMfolozi Game Reserve – known internationally for its role in saving the white rhino from extinction previously - to directly !address the current rhino poaching crisis and develop resolutions needed to stop burgeoning wildlife crime. The World Youth Rhino Summit’s goal is to engage future leaders OUTCOMES: in rhino/wildlife conservation & protection strategies and • To Sound: A world-wide call to empower delegates to become local, national and international action by the youth to save the Ambassadors for wildlife & conservation, and influence policy at rhino from extinction, led by local, state, national and international levels. ! Africa’s young conservation OBJECTIVES: leaders – emanating from KwaZulu- 1. Nurture understanding of and commitment to the values of Natal, South Africa conservation amongst the youth, particularly for rhino and other • To Send: Key ‘hearts and minds’ endangered species affected by illegal poaching and wildlife crime 2. Educate tomorrow’s leaders on the growing problem of international wildlife crime and its threats to biodiversity and wider issues such as national security 3. Gain youth perspectives on rhino poaching, wildlife crime, demand-reduction, and economic value of endangered species 4. Connect young conservation leaders with current conservation, political, tribal and business leaders and foster knowledge-sharing between generations 5. Advance the theme of the Summit by providing tools to support the youth in the classroom and in their communities 6. Develop an international network of concerned youth leaders 7. Signing of a World Youth Wildlife Declaration that is acknowledged by eminent global bodies such as the United Nations,! IUCN and CITES ! ! Watch the introductory video: ! http://vimeo.com/98441530 ! ! The Delegates The delegates are being selected based on their future leadership potential in business, government and society. They are being drawn from the Rhino Art – Let the Children’s Voices be Heard campaign. Through the American International Schools network, the sons and daughters of international diplomats and business leaders from 9 African countries will mingle with exceptional youth from rural communities close to rhino poaching hotspots such as the Kruger National Park, northern KZN and the Mozambique ‘Rhino poaching war zone’. Vietnamese and Chinese young people will be exposed to the tragedy unfolding in Africa’s game parks, form bonds with their African peers and hear the words of anti-poaching experts at the coal-face of the rhino crisis. Main countries sending delegates to the World Youth Rhino Summit The Rhino Art – Let the Children’s Voices be Heard campaign is led by modern-day ! African explorer Kingsley Holgate in partnership with Project Rhino KZN. It has already reached over 125,000 young people throughout southern and central Africa with a rhino ! conservation message that encourages them to voice their thoughts about rhino poaching. The results are astonishing; not only is it very clear that young people in both ! urban and rural communities are fully aware of the rhino poaching crisis and feel deeply about it, but they are also aware of the long term impact it will have on their African ! heritage and the global world they stand to inherit. Their graphic pictures show ! cognizance of widespread corruption and criminal forces at work and their heartfelt ! !pleas for rhino poaching to stop make hardened rangers weep. The Rhino Art campaign was part of the launch of the President Joaquim Chissano ! Wildlife Crime Initiative in Maputo, which aims to implement tougher wildlife crime laws in Mozambique. It has now reached Vietnam in partnership with WildAct, Saving ! Rhinos (UK), the Freeland Foundation and ENV. ! ! ! ! ! ! The Programme • Delegates will be divided into Regiments of 10 named after endangered African animals and will convene after busy days for ‘Tribal Council’ around a central fire where conservation experts and anti- poaching leaders will impart their knowledge. • African culture and heritage and its inherent link to not just rhinos but all African wildlife and wild spaces will be a major theme running through the Summit; the aim being to re-ignite in these young minds, the deep connection between man and the natural environment. Zulu culture will play a lead role in this education with cultural experts from Shakaland a d d i n g knowledge, colour and dance to the Summit. David ‘Quadasi’ Jenkins – the 22-year old, award-winning Masakandi singer will also attend; he has dedicated his song Obhejane to the World Youth Rhino Summit. All other cultures represented will be respected, and delegates will come prepared to share their own traditions. • ‘Rhino Experiences’ will give delegates a direct understanding of conservation efforts to ensure that the rhino is saved from extinction yet again. These include: • iMfolozi’s ‘Operation Rhino’ Museum • Guided visits to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s bomas • Game drives/walks to view rhinos in the wild • Simulated rhino security exercise involving the Zululand Anti-Poaching Wing and ground anti-poaching teams • The academic part of the programme has been developed by the American International School network. Delegates will pre- 6 Provocative Themes research and debate 6 provocative themes that cover not just 1. Commercialization of Wildlife rhino poaching, but also burgeoning global wildlife crime. (rhino economics, farming, trade, • On the final day, the Summit delegates will hold a Press eco-tourism, hunting) Conference with conservation experts (‘Rhino Elders’) fielding questions and debating issues that the delegates have identified 2. Demand Reduction - culture and as important. Local and international media will be present. society • The Summit will culminate in the signing of a World Youth Wildlife Declaration that will be presented to local and international government, conservation and cultural leaders at a !VIP grand finale event. ! ‘Rhino Elders’ & Conservation Leaders Delegates will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact with recognised conservation experts. ‘Rhino Elders’ that will field delegate’s questions on the final day include: • Dr Ian Player (world renowned rhino conservationist) • Dr William Fowlds (world renowned wildlife/rhino rehabilitation Vet) • Dr Paula Kaumba (Kenya - elephant expert and global activist against wildlife crime) • Steve Galster (USA - founder of the Freeland Foundation, global expert in wildlife and human trafficking) • Dr Bandile Mkhize (CEO Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife) • Chris Galliers (Chairman of the Game Rangers Association of Africa) • Ted Reilly (Swaziland – CEO of Big Game Parks, helped shape Swaziland’s wildlife crime laws) !• Kingsley Holgate Other conservation experts that will engage with the delegates will be drawn from 18 members of the Project Rhino KZN association and include game reserve managers and anti-poaching unit members, scientists and rhino !security experts who will share their extensive knowledge of conservation and wildlife crime with delegates. ! ! Venue & accommodation The Summit will be a truly African experience, un-replicable anywhere else in the world. It is being hosted by the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, world-renowned for its role in saving the southern white rhino from extinction through the work of Dr Ian Player, Magqubu Ntombela and other KwaZulu-Natal conservation pioneers. The delegates will be accommodated in a first-class camp environment, at the Centenary Centre, in unspoilt wilderness to get them in tune with the beating