When the African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG) was formed in 1991, Martin Brooks assumed the chairmanship. His association with African rhinos had begun more than 10 years earlier when he was an ecologist with the Natal Parks Board in the Hluhluwe and Umfolozi Game Reserves. Martin’s entire career was spent with this organization, which later became Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, until his early retirement as an executive director in 2004.

The 30 to 40 AfRSG members represent a mix of scientific experts and field practitioners. “The conservation context in which we work has one of five African rhino subspecies conserved
almost exclusively in areas managed by either State authorities or the private sector, and where the taxa are either on the brink of extinction – the West African black and northern white rhinos – or are recovering towards long-term viability,” explains Martin.

“All are rated as Critically Endangered except the southern white rhino which now numbers over 11,000. Biological management to enhance population growth, translocation to expand distribution into areas within their historical range and security are therefore the major foci. The effective implementation of rhino programs is facilitated by the inclusion and active participation in the Specialist Group of representatives of all the major Range States and conservation agencies, including the private sector.”

Most of the immediate challenges facing Africa’s rhinos and therefore the Group relate to the SSC objective to use scientific information to influence policies and management decisions. The revision of the South African Black Rhino Plan is nearing completion, and those of other Range States will soon be evaluated. Extensive guidance is, and will continue to be given, and techniques refined to ensure that populations are effectively monitored and managed to optimize population growth rates and ensure accurate population estimates. Following on from the 13th Conference of the Parties to CITES in 2004, the Group will be compiling a report on the status of Africa’s rhinos and submitting it to the CITES Secretariat in advance of all their conferences. This should maintain the international profile of these critically important taxa. Major funding agencies will continue to be assisted in determining priorities and identifying the significance of projects to long-term taxon conservation. The AfRSG will continue to provide high-level strategic advice for all Africa’s rhinos, but particu larly for areas where rhinos are close to extinction. The political neutrality of the IUCN SSC and the non-partisan views of its rhino specialists are often required to broker agreements or provide strategic direction.

The Group also focuses on promoting conservation by biodiversity users – SSC objective two. Priorities include refining conservation models that are appropriate for rural African communities, and an evaluation of the controls and approach adopted for black rhino trophy hunting by South Africa. SSC’s objective relating to capacity building will be addressed through extensive advice, both strategic and technical, given to the Range States, and the extensive transfer of knowledge that will occur at the AfRSG’s biennial meetings in 2006, 2008 and 2010. Emphasis is placed on assisting the Range States to develop their own “critical mass” of expertise as this will provide increased self-sufficiency in decisionmaking and help increase the profile of rhino conservation in their countries.