SA Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment David Maynier invited members of the public to comment on the draft National Leopard Conservation Strategy and Action Plan, 2026.
The department published the draft strategy in Government Gazette No. 55299, Notice No. 7877, on September 4, 2026.
Publication took place under Sections 99 and 100 of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act of 2004.
The draft strategy proposes a shared national vision under which leopards thrive in living landscapes and contribute to cultural traditions and local livelihoods through inclusive, community-driven conservation.
The proposed plan seeks to align leopard conservation with the White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of SA’s Biodiversity, 2023.
According to the department, the strategy also takes account of public values and expectations concerning leopards, including potential benefits for society and the environment.
Leopards are recognised as an important part of SA’s natural heritage, with ecological, cultural and symbolic importance across different communities.
The draft strategy proposes protecting leopard habitats and wider biodiversity while using conservation to support sustainable development and transformation.
Conservation efforts under the proposed framework would focus on three main areas: the ecological role of leopards, social and cultural values linked to the species, and the effect of leopards on livelihoods.
The plan also seeks to identify opportunities for communities to benefit from leopard conservation while addressing challenges associated with human-wildlife interaction.
Community participation forms a central part of the proposed approach, with the draft vision calling for conservation measures shaped by local knowledge, cultural practices and livelihood needs.
The public consultation process gives individuals, communities, conservation organisations, researchers and other interested parties an opportunity to provide input before finalisation of the strategy.
Written comments must be submitted within 30 days of the publication of the notice in the Government Gazette or a newspaper, depending on which publication date falls later.
The consultation period will allow the department to consider public submissions before adopting a final national framework for leopard conservation.
–ChannelAfrica–
