ARID NEWS
Succulent Poachers Convicted to Seven Years in Jail By Genevieve Maasdorp
Halfmens succelents poached in ARTP
South African National Parks announced the conviction of two succulent poachers from Richtersveld. Members of the Ranger Corp assisted by the botanical team and South African Police Services affected the arrest and the consecutive sentencing and convicting of the two members of the public who endangered Halfmens trees within |Ai|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.
be possible to rehabilitate the specimens back into their natural habitat, it is seen as a major loss for conservation and has a very negative impact on the specific population. The species are of great value and are seen as a valuable asset to the |Ai|Ais/ Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, which is the only National Park in South Africa where the species is being conserved.
The Richtersveld National Park is a contractual park jointly managed by the local community board, called the RGBK, and SANParks. It is the only National Park where people are allowed to live and continue with livestock farming within a national park.
Four suspects were arrested, of which two turned state witnesses and assisted with the conviction of the other two who were sentenced and convicted on Thursday, 21 April 2022, to seven years in jail.
SANParks finds the removal and permanent damage caused by the removal/destruction of the 14 Pachypodium namaquanum as one of the worst cases in the history of the Richtersveld National Park due to the significant cultural, tourism and natural value the plants have for the organisation and the South African public. Due to the sensitivity of the species as confirmed by various specialists, and the fact that it will not
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According to the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) Part 7, 16 (Offences and Penalties) (1) (b) No person may have in his or her possession or under his or her control, or to offer or expose for sale or display to the public, any specimen of a species listed in the Appendices which was not legally acquired; (2) A person contravening sub regulation (1) is guilty of the offence and shall be liable on conviction to (a) a fine not exceeding five Continued on Page 14...