Podcasts

Beneath the Baobab is a new podcast series about Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM). Produced by one of our partners, JAMMA International, Beneath the Baobab is hosted by wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan. In these cutting-edge conversations about conservation work led by communities around the world, you will hear from indigenous peoples and local communities who are exercising their rights to do innovative work as custodians of resources for generations. The future for wildlife and endangered species can be positive, if we are all prepared to listen. Join Gordon and his guests at Beneath the Baobab for stories of hope as well as brilliant, radical and innovative ideas for solving the problems faced by humans and wildlife.


  • Episode 1

    Supporting Communities to Lead Conservation – Elephants and Ecotourism

    Listen now


  • Episode 2

    Living with predators – how lions and people can thrive in a shared landscape

    Listen now


  • Episode 3

    Preventing Lion and Elephant Conflict and Supporting Alternative Livelihoods

    Listen now

CLN in the Media

CLN Annual Report 2022

The Community Leaders Network of Southern Africa (CLN) has participated in various national, regional and international fora during the year 2022, leaving significant impacts at every one of them. All these activities are in line with CLN’s mandate of ensuring that community members who actually live with wildlife on a daily basis are consulted in all decisions regarding management of wildlife and other natural resources. Community members participated at events such as CITES CoP19, CBD CoP15, APAC, UNEA 5 – amongst others.

Detailed report of activities can be accessed here: CLN Annual Report 2022

Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill debate

Quote from Sir Bill Wiggin during the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill debate in the UK House of Commons – 25 Nov 2022

“We need to appreciate what it is like to live with large and dangerous or endangered species. We cannot expect people in rural Africa to have the same views on this subject as the voters in, say, Crawley. That is why telling Africans—however we choose to cushion the message—how to manage their wildlife is fundamentally wrong, post-colonial and possibly racist, and I cannot stand by and allow this to go uncriticised”

Press Release: Southern Africa meets resistance to proposals on communities and wildlife trade

Southern Africa meets resistance to proposals on communities and wildlife trade

  • Countries in the Southern African Development Council (SADC) are pushing
    to incorporate rural communities and their livelihoods in decisions about the
    international trade of wildlife.
  •  While they have met resistance to their proposals from other countries, SADC
    governments have showcased how working alongside their communities can
    achieve conservation and sustainable development goals.
  • Community representatives from Southern Africa who attended CITES made
    interventions in support of their governments’ position.
Read More