To raise awareness about wildlife conservation and address the ongoing challenge of poaching, the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency’s (ECPTA) Thomas Baines Nature Reserve has launched an innovative community engagement initiative that leverages the unifying power of sport.
The reserve hosted an Under-15 soccer tournament, targeting young people from communities adjacent to ECPTA-managed protected areas. The tournament sought to educate and sensitise young people about the severe consequences of poaching.
According to the Thomas Baines Nature Reserve, Siphelele Hlazo, the initiative is part of a broader strategy to involve communities, particularly young people, in conservation efforts through accessible and relatable platforms.
“Poaching remains one of the most pressing threats to biodiversity in our region. It is crucial to actively involve local communities, especially the youth, by raising awareness and promoting a sense of custodianship over our natural heritage,” said Hlazo.
He further emphasised that soccer, as the most popular sport among the youth in the Eastern Cape, serves as an effective medium for outreach.
“Soccer tournaments offer us a powerful platform to disseminate conservation messages while simultaneously fostering positive relationships with neighbouring communities. Through these engagements, we demonstrate that our provincial protected areas are community-oriented spaces that welcome collaboration in the fight against wildlife crime,” added Hlazo.
As part of its ongoing commitment to youth development and conservation education, Thomas Baines Nature Reserve also extended its support beyond soccer by donating a full netball kit to Qhayiya Primary School in Bathurst. This gesture forms part of the reserve’s broader Youth in Conservation and Anti-Poaching Awareness Programme, which aims to cultivate environmentally responsible future leaders through education, sport, and community upliftment.
