The hunting sector in South Africa generates well over one billion rand a year‚ says Zuma. President Jacob Zuma has rallied to the defence of the country’s hunting industry‚ which he says generates over R1-billion per year.Delivering the opening address at the 17th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Johannesburg‚ Zuma said natural resources did not only sustain livelihoods of communities.They were also critical in promoting economic development‚ he told delegates. Examples of this included the lawful trade in wildlife‚ including the practice of hunting‚ which was criticised by many.“The hunting sector in South Africa generates well over one billion rand a year‚” Zuma stated.SA's dogfight to save rhinoAt the secret training camp called Battle Creek in the African bush - two hours from Johannesburg - men are training animals to hunt other men who kill animals. Zuma said South Africa was fully behind the COP17 conference because it was committed to conservation which contributed significantly to socio-economic development of poor and rural communities.“The sustainable use of the country’s indigenous biological resources is fundamental to the development of South Africa’s economy and social transformation. “In this regard‚ game farming‚ the hunting industry‚ eco-tourism and bio-prospecting play a significant role. The management interventions that we apply are therefore aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of the communities to whom they are entrusted.”South Africa‚ he said‚ was already running successful green and ocean economy programmes‚ as well as a biodiversity economy linked directly to the bio-prospecting and wildlife sectors. “What we are doing is in line with the continental strategy‚ Agenda 2063‚ which recognises the important role that natural resources play in Africa’s development and socio-economic transformation.No leopard hunters to be spotted this yearFor the first time in decades, hunters with deep pockets cannot target the so-called "Big 5" game animals in South Africa because the government has imposed a ban on leopard hunts for the 2016 season. “In addition‚ the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development‚ adopted at the United Nations a year ago‚ also includes goals that promote the protection and sustainable utilisation of natural resources‚” Zuma told the conference. The country’s wildlife also contributed immensely to the GDP through the tourism sector‚ anchored in the main on nature-based tourism with the Big Five.“This is a big job creator in our country.”TMG Digital ..