Misguided Melanie Verwoerd Does Not Speak for Africa: Communities Defend Conservation Rights
The Community Leaders Network of Southern Africa (CLN), representing over 20 million
individuals across twelve Southern African nations, stands as the authentic voice of the
communities engaged in and affected by sustainable conservation practices. CLN operates with
the vision that wildlife resources should directly benefit the rural populations who share their land
with and steward these resources. Trophy hunting, when ethically managed, is integral to this
vision, as it provides essential socio-economic benefits and finances local conservation efforts.
It is, therefore, with firm resolve that CLN addresses Melanie Verwoerd’s recent statements in the
British media, where she presumes to speak on behalf of Southern African communities.
Verwoerd’s appeal for the UK Government to ban trophy hunting imports not only undermines
African conservation sovereignty but threatens the livelihoods and sustainable conservation
practices that our communities have worked to secure. CLN wishes to clarify that Verwoerd does
not represent Southern African communities or their conservation needs.
