DFFE – National Elephant Heritage Strategy to Guide South Africa’s Elephant Conservation
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has officially published the National Elephant Heritage Strategy (NEHS), a comprehensive framework that will shape the future of African bush elephant conservation and management across South Africa.
As South Africa’s National Elephant Action Plan under the broader African Elephant Action Plan, the NEHS aligns national efforts with both domestic biodiversity targets and South Africa’s international conservation commitments.
It provides a clear, coordinated roadmap for protecting and sustainably managing elephant populations while balancing ecological, social, and economic considerations.
Speaking on the release, Minister Willie Aucamp emphasised the strategy’s importance:
it will serve as the foundation for developing and implementing several critical elephant management tools, including:
- Elephant Norms and Standards
- National Elephant Research Strategy
- Non-Detrimental Finding for Elephants
- Elephant Red-list Assessment
- Reserve-level Elephant Management Plans
- National Elephant Meta-Population Plan
These tools will support evidence-based decision-making, strengthen research, improve population management, and ensure that elephant conservation remains effective and adaptive in the years ahead.
Electronic copies of the full National Elephant Heritage Strategy are now available for public access:
This milestone represents a significant step forward in South Africa’s commitment to safeguarding its iconic elephant heritage.
Stakeholders, conservation organisations, and the public are encouraged to review the document and engage with the processes that will follow.
Stay tuned for further updates as the implementation of this important strategy unfolds.
