Polokwane – The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), in collaboration with the Sustainable Finance Coalition, has initiated Biodiversity Management Agreements (BMAs) with three private rhino and lion owners in Limpopo. Developed in consultation with the Wilderness Foundation Africa (WFA), these agreements are set for a five-year duration.

According to South African Government News Agency, these are South Africa’s first BMAs, offering biodiversity tax incentives under the Income Tax Act (ITA, Act 58 of 1962). BMAs are part of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Agreement (NEMBA, Act No. 10 of 2004) and aim to manage species or ecosystems through approved Biodiversity Management Plans (BMPs). The agreements mandate landowners to implement conservation and management measures for wild lions and rhinos, complying with all legal obligations. The owners, managing Southern Black Rhino and African Lion in Limpopo’s open system protected areas, are responsible for conservation-related expenses, eligible for tax deductions. The Coalition’s Finance Solution Approach, supporting the Global Biodiversity Framework goals, facilitates these conservation tax deductions. Annual progress reports on the BMAs will be submitted to the Minister. The BMPs for both rhinos and lions are under review, with adjustments to the BMAs expected upon their finalization. The Rhino Management Group and the National Lion Working Group are the implementing agents for the Rhino and Lion BMPs, respectively.