A biodiversity management plan to ensure the long-term survival in the wild of the white rhino has been published by Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa in the Government Gazette. According to department of Environmental Affairs spokesman Moses Rannditsheni‚ the plan enables the evaluation of conservation progress and management and sets out key actions and strategies needed to ensure the monitoring‚ protection‚ conservation and sustainable management of the white rhino.“The Biodiversity Management Plans for Species allows for the monitoring and review of actions taken to conserve species in the wild amidst a changing environment. It also requires that‚ in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act‚ all management plans compiled by conservation authorities are approved by the Minister for public participation and implementation respectively.“Additionally‚ the development of this Biodiversity Management Plan is in response to an instruction from the Environmental Parliamentary Portfolio Committee as a result of the current upsurge in rhino horn poaching. It also reflects on the commitment of the key partners involved to work together in order to effectively achieve priorities highlighted in the Minister’s rhino summit as well as try to curb the illegal poaching and trade in rhinos.“The plan enables the evaluation of conservation progress and management and sets out key actions and strategies needed to ensure that monitoring‚ protection‚ conservation and sustainable management of the species will contribute to meeting conservation goals and contribute towards meeting the long-term vision for conservation of white rhino‚” Rannditsheni added...