Tsolwana Nature Reserve became a hub of learning and empowerment as rangers from the reserve participated in a comprehensive Law Enforcement Training program. This critical training, which took place in late June 2024, was coordinated by the Senior Conservation Inspector from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Chumani Bontsa and facilitated by the Reserve Manager, Mthandazo Tshofela.
The primary aim of this training was to capacitate and refresh the rangers on Environmental Law and the State of Area Integrity Policies. These policies serve as the backbone of conservation efforts, ensuring that rangers are well-equipped to protect and preserve the biodiversity within the reserve. The training focused on enhancing the rangers’ understanding of legal frameworks that govern environmental protection and their practical enforcement in the field.
Tsolwana Nature Reserve, Mthandazo Tshofela, said part of the critical mandate of law enforcement is its constitutional and legitimate application. “With this training, we wanted to capacitate the rangers in critical law enforcement and environmental principles, strengthen and revitalise the rangers in terms of environmental law and how this can be applied daily, ethically and professionally, to ensure that procedures are properly followed,” said Tshofela.
“It was not just a refresher training but an essential step in ensuring that the rangers remain up to date with the latest legal requirements and best practices in conservation. It is vital that rangers are constantly about their duties and these trainings assists more the new rangers and interns to gain more knowledge,” said Tsolwana Field Ranger, Zoliswa Daki.
