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South African National Parks (SANParks) Biodiversity Economy programme saw 40 youth and women from communities around our national parks and within productive landscapes graduate today in Bloemfontein, Free State.

Anchored in SANParks’ Vision 2040 and the National Biodiversity Economy Strategy, this programme is designed to advance inclusive economic growth and social cohesion through targeted skills development, enterprise creation and development, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, preservation of local knowledge, food security and market access for previously disadvantaged individuals.

The Skills Development Programme aims to initiate, facilitate, catalyse and promote inclusive socio-economic development in and around national parks which are mostly situated in far-flung rural areas with limited opportunities for economic growth. This makes the programme relevant as a key contributor to efforts aimed at poverty alleviation, employment creation and reducing inequalities as our biological resources have incredible commercial potential.

The 40 graduates were trained in using harvested natural resources from the national parks and productive landscapes for the cosmetics and healthcare industries. Some of the beneficiaries were sponsored with skin hides for bag-making. This graduation reflects a powerful intersection between biodiversity protection, skills development, and inclusive growth, ensuring that national parks are not islands of plenty within landscapes of poverty, but are become engines of opportunity and prosperity.

The overall programme ensures the training of 180 enterprises over three (3) years (60 annually – 30 per cohort) which comprises of unemployed youth and people living with disabilities. The initial training will focus on 30 enterprises in beauty products and 30 enterprises in leather manufacturing.

This programme prepares students for future opportunities in:

• Indigenous plant cultivation and processing (e.g. aloe ferox, honeybush, medicinal herbs).
• Natural product value chains – including cosmetics, essential oils, fragrances.
• Alien invasive plant control and sustainable harvesting practices.
• Leatherwork production – manufacturing of items such as bags, key holders, notebook covers, and hospitality accessories (e.g. door signs used in hotels).
• Environmental sustainability – awareness on biodiversity conservation, pollution and waste management.

As part of SANParks commitment to Vision 2040, this initiative promotes sustainable livelihoods and empowers vulnerable groups by integrating them into conservation-based value chains whilst encouraging ethical and environmentally friendly practices.

The NGOs, donor community and private sector players can contribute to the programme by offering internships, mentorships, or placements to learners for further experiential learning, donating tools and equipment, facilitating small business incubation or cooperative development, and supporting market access for beneficiary products via local markets.