We assessed several important socioeconomic contributions of diverse wildlife-based business models, defined by their main revenue-generating activities, within the South African wildlife ranching industry, and the financial viability of these models. We used a hierarchical clustering analysis to delineate six wildlife ranching business models. These included three more specialized models: ecotourism, trophy hunting, and wildlife breeding, and three more mixed models: mixed hunting (i.e., both meat and trophy hunting), mixed wildlife-agriculture, and trophy hunting-game meat. 

For more detail and results of the socioeconomic analysis, see our upcoming paper: Denner, Clements, Child, de Vos. In press. Conservation, Science and Practice

Working with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), we have produced sector-wide information on the wildlife economy for both investors and new market entrants, as well as infographics on the attributes of various business models. We hope this information will be used to help structure business plans and facilitate investment into expanding wildlife economy enterprises. See the Biodiversity Economy Investment Platform for more detail. 

Key refeferences used: 1. Saayman, M., van der Merwe, P. & Saayman, A. The economic impact of trophy hunting in the south African wildlife industry. Glob. Ecol. Conserv. 16, e00510 (2018).. 2. Taylor, W. A., Lindsey, P. A., Nicholson, S. K., Relton, C. & Davies-Mostert, H. T. Jobs, game meat and profits: The benefits of wildlife ranching on marginal lands in South Africa. Biol. Conserv. 245, 108561 (2020). 3. ALU. State of the Wildlife Economy in Africa - Case study - South Africa. (2020). 4. Clements, H. S., Baum, J. & Cumming, G. S. Money and motives: an organizational ecology perspective on private land conservation. Biol. Conserv. 197, 108–115 (2016). 5. Taylor, W. A. et al. South Africa’s private wildlife ranches protect globally significant populations of wild ungulates. Biodivers. Conserv. 30, 4111–4135 (2021). 6. Shumba, T., De Vos, A., Biggs, R., Esler, K. J. & Clements, H. S. The influence of biophysical and socio-economic factors on the effectiveness of private land conservation areas in preventing natural land cover loss across South Africa. Glob. Ecol. Conserv. 28, e01670 (2021).