African Parks pays tribute to Nelson Mandela, Humanitarian and Conservationist

As Africa and the world mourns the death of South Africa’s great statesman Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, we pay tribute to the former President and humanitarian for his commitment to wildlife conservation.

Nelson Mandela urged the late Dutch philanthropist Paul Fentener van Vlissingen to support conservation in South Africa, which led to the latter’s contribution to the development and management of Marakele National Park. The Marakele initiative served as an inspiration for the public-private partnership model that has been implemented by African Parks across the continent.

"Today especially, we honour the crucial role that Nelson Mandela played in persuading Paul to help establish Marakele, which in turn led to his contribution to and chairmanship of African Parks,” said African Parks chairman Robert-Jan van Ogtrop. "This legacy is evident in the 4.1 million hectares of land protected for wildlife today by African Parks in partnership with six African Governments.”

African Parks CEO Peter Fearnhead said Nelson Mandela’s stance towards protecting wildlife was best summed up in his oft quoted statement: "If we do not do something to prevent it, Africa’s animals and the places in which they live will be lost to our world and her children – forever”.

"This statement is more relevant today than at any other time in the history of conservation as we face critical threats to Africa’s protected areas. We pay tribute to Nelson Mandela for his great vision in advancing humanitarian causes as well as the cause of wildlife in Africa.”