***Riverine Rabbit Project Appeal***

Please, please post this to as many companies and rabbit lists as possible in
the hopes that it will generate funds for the most critically endangered
rabbit in the world. Not as sexy as others on the critically endangered list, it
still deserves as much support and money as possible. Please keep in mind that
dollars and pounds make lots of South African Rands.
Suggested companies would be rabbit feed manufacturers and big name
supermarkets... THANKS!
Wendy.

The Riverine Rabbit Working Group
A Working Group of the Endangered Wildlife Trust

Proposal for financial support for:
Riverine Rabbit Conservation –
Habitat Evaluation, Mapping and Management






Contact Details

Endangered Wildlife Trust’s
Riverine Rabbit Working Group (RRWG)
Private Bag X11, Parkview, 2122
Tel: (011) 486-1102 Fax: (011) 486-1506
Yolan Friedmann: cbsgsa@wol.co.za
Dr Vicky Ahlmann: ahlmann@yebo.co.za
CONTENTS



1. Executive Summary

2. Introduction

3. Description of the Riverine Rabbit Working Group

4. Project description
Project Objectives
Expected Results
Project Deliverables

5. BUDGET

6. Sustainability

7. Marketing opportunities

8. Project administration

9. Background of the organisation

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~













EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis) is a highly specialised
Lagomorph that occurs in the semi-arid central Karoo region of South Africa and can
only survive in fairly pristine seasonal river vegetation of the Karoo.
According to the World Conservation Union’s (IUCN) Red List criteria, the Riverine
Rabbit is Critically Endangered and yet there is still very little understanding
and knowledge of the animal and its requirements amongst the residents of the
Karoo and the greater South African population.

The destruction and modification of the Karoo’s unique riverine habitat due
to overgrazing and other agricultural practices has had a significant impact on
the Riverine Rabbit population over the past century. Populations become
isolated where riverbeds have been transformed for cultivation of cash crops
posing the additional risk of inbreeding due to insufficient gene flow in the
overall population.

Hunting with dogs poses another serious threat to the species, while
irresponsible application of leghold / gin traps also pose a significant threat,
although these devices are aimed at problem animals such as the Blackbacked Jackal
and Caracal.

In undertaking conservation work on the Riverine Rabbit in the Karoo region,
it has emerged that awareness and understanding of environmental issues and
general conservation amongst farm workers, their families and rural school
children and teachers needs to be enhanced. The sustainable use of natural
resources and an overall understanding of the interdependence between man and his
natural environment are associated with an improved and healthier lifestyle,
poverty alleviation and social upliftment

The Riverine Rabbit Working Group aims to address these problems through a
coordinated programme to conserve the Riverine Rabbit and its habitat. The group’
s aim include the development of habitat management guidelines for Karoo
stock and crop farmers and a management plan for the rehabilitation of habitat
required for the survival and range expansion of the species. A large component
of the programme also includes environmental education and awareness directed
at farm workers, landowners, learners and teachers. The total annual cost of
the programme is R126 000.


2. INTRODUCTION

The Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis) is endemic to South Africa and
is one of South Africa’s most threatened terrestrial mammals as well as one of
twelve globally Endangered rabbit species (IUCN 1996). It has been classified
as Endangered since 1981 and listed as such in both the global and national
IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red Data books. A recent Population and Habitat
Viability Assessment undertaken for the species revealed that the total
population size has declined by 60% during the past two decades and therefore the
species’ conservation status has been upgraded to Critically Endangered in the
Red Data Book of South Africa (Friedmann and Daly, 2004).

Being a habitat specialist, the Riverine Rabbit is associated with the dense,
discontinuous and highly diverse vegetation fringing the seasonal rivers of
the Central Karoo region. As the only burrowing rabbit in Africa, the Riverine
Rabbit is adapted to and dependent on soft and deep alluvial soils along the
river courses for constructing stable breeding stops.

The greatest threat facing the Riverine Rabbit is loss of habitat. The
massive decline of two-thirds of its original habitat and, correspondingly, of the
Riverine Rabbit population, has been attributed to the loss of suitable habitat
as a result of agricultural activities on the seasonal river flood plains.

Also in recent years a trend to engage in the commercial cultivation of cash
crops has resulted in an ongoing loss of prime riverine habitat along
perennial riverbeds in the Central Karoo. This type of habitat modification has had
very serious consequences for the species, as small groups of animals become
isolated from each other through the cultivation of riverbanks. The habitat is
modified irreversibly and is thus lost to the animal. Such habitat
modification also leads to advanced erosion and this contributes to the slow degradation
of remaining riparian habitat.

Modification of rivers in the Karoo to capitalise on the available water has
been ongoing for a long period of time. Weirs and dams disturb the annual
water flow regime to such an extent that large tracts of the available habitat
cannot support the needs of the Riverine Rabbit. Occasional flooding is part of
the Karoo ecosystem and the animal can survive the normal patterns of droughts
and occasional flooding but flooding patterns are changed by damming of rivers
and may have a serious impact on the habitat (vegetation and soils) required
by the Riverine Rabbit.

Fabricius (1993) identified in his habitat suitability study certain habitat
factors such as the width between shrub crowns and the lengths of the gap
between shrub crowns that are able to separate the localities where rabbits are
present or absent. It was assumed that the crown:gap ratio of the vegetation is
crucial to the survival of the species. Only a certain crown:gap ratio
provides enough shelter for the species from predators and extreme climate
conditions such as heat, severe frost and strong winds.

Today the Riverine Rabbit only occurs on private farmland whereby riverine
habitat is equally attractive to landowners (for both cultivation of crops and
extensive livestock grazing). Due to the fact that NONE of the riverine habitat
is protected within a provincial nature reserve or national park in the Karoo
region, the future of this highly Endangered species and its habitat lies in
the hands of the farming community in the Central Karoo.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE RIVERINE RABBIT WORKING GROUP

The Riverine Rabbit Working Group (RRWG), is working group of the Endangered
Wildlife Trust and the group aims to establish sound habitat management
principles that are conducive to the conservation of the Riverine Rabbit and its
threatened habitat. This includes habitat management guidelines for stock and
crop farming that accommodate the needs of the species, minimise the impacts of
human activities and support sustainable land use. A management plan is being
developed with relevant stakeholders for the restoration of habitat required
for the survival and range expansion of the species into its former range.

The Riverine Rabbit functions as a flagship species for its entire
distribution range and to ensure its survival in future, the work of the RRWG emphasises
the sound management, conservation and restoration of the biological
diversity of the riparian river zones in the Karoo.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Project objectives

Accurate determination of the current distribution range and population
size of the Riverine Rabbit within the Northern and Western Cape provinces (i.e.
areas near Touwsriver, Fraserburg, Sutherland, Middelpos, Calvinia, Williston
and Brandvlei)
Implementation of a long-term monitoring system in river zones
Research on and implementation of sustainable farming practices that
conserve indigenous plant and animal species on productive farms
Introduce and implement Conservation Stewardship Programmes on private
farmland in the Karoo region
Environmental education and awareness programmes within the rural and
urbanised communities of the Karoo: Establish knowledge, understanding of, and
appreciation for the Riverine Rabbit amongst key role players within the extent of
occurrence of the Riverine Rabbit aimed at, for example school learners and
teachers, farm workers and landowners
Development and implementation of strategies to regenerate degraded
riparian zones and re-connect remaining riverine habitat fragments.

Expected outcomes

Provision of an analysis at the level of the entire species’ range, in
order to assess the current status of the Riverine Rabbit and to evaluate
conservation implications of present and potential anthropogenic disturbances
including identification of current and future threats to the survival of the Riverine
Rabbit, mapping of remaining habitat, possible conservation interventions as
well as the likely implications of socio-economic growth and climate change on
the Riverine Rabbit’s survival in the future. Some of the methods include the
use of satellite images and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map areas
of suitable habitat for the Riverine Rabbit
Together with the results of a present genetic analysis of the species
(study on the population connectivity and temporal genetic variation; Department
of Zoology of the University of Stellenbosch) the findings of the proposed work
will assist in the establishment of an effective conservation action and
management strategy for the Riverine Rabbit (as a flagship species) and its
habitat
Through the establishment and implementation of an environmental education
and extension programme awareness will be created in the Karoo and will
relieve some of the pressures on the Riverine Rabbit and its habitat. Critical
issues that will be addressed include species identification, habitat preservation,
integrated problem animal management and appropriate management of farm worker
’s dogs
General conservation benefits. The conservation measures for the Riverine
Rabbit will result in other positive outcomes for the Karoo ecoregion as well.
General habitat preservation, habitat restoration, enhancement of species
diversity and a decrease in the direct human impacts on the Karoo ecology will be
added benefits of the project
Economical benefit for the people of the region. Land restoration will
afford farmers better returns on their farming activities as a result of healthier
grazing and a more diverse plant community that can support stock farming.
Farm workers that participate in the conservation of the Riverine Rabbit can be
rewarded (e.g. T-shirts or caps or other incentives) for recording denning
sites and monitoring small populations on their respective farms.


Project Deliverables

Comprehensive field surveys on private farmland in the Northern and Western
Cape provinces (i.e. areas near Touwsriver, Fraserburg, Sutherland,
Middelpos, Calvinia, Williston and Brandvlei). The surveys include habitat evaluation,
mapping, drive counts of Riverine Rabbits and interviews with farmers and farm
labour staff.

With the implementation of an Environmental Education and Awareness (EEA)
programme the following will be established and achieved:

Development of a EEA resource (i.e. Enviro Picture Building game which will
be used to educate and raise awareness amongst literate and illiterate people)
Revision and translation of the EWT Conservation Leadership Group
Eco-Warriors species educational manuals (for learners and educators) to suit the
Riverine Rabbit.
Compilation of a Riverine Rabbit and Farmer’s booklet.
Design of a decal for the school education work.
Identification and training of suitable farm workers as educators.
Identification and training of leading farmers and educators in EEA.
Hosting farmers’ days on EEA and the Riverine Rabbit’s role as the flagship
species of the Karoo.
Hosting an annual large regional conservation day for the farming community.
Hosting teachers’ training days on EEA and the role of the Riverine Rabbit as
the flagship species of the Karoo.
Presenting talks at conferences, clubs, in the media
Compiling articles for agriculture and conservation magazines.
Visiting individual farmers on their land (100 visits annually).
Annual problem animal control course for farm labour staff.

BUDGET


ITEM COST (ZAR)
Salary support for field staff 36 000
Travel & Subsistence 24 000
Equipment 18 000
Administration/Operating Expenses 18 000
Education and Awareness Programme 30 000
TOTAL 126 000

6. PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY

The ultimate aim of this Working Group is to train farmers, farm workers and
teachers to the level where they will perpetuate the education and awareness
programme without capital or financial investment being required.


7. MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES


If you contribute towards this project, there can be various packages put
together in terms of our relationship with you and what we can do for you. This
can be discussed upon acknowledgement of the contribution to be made.

If the project is fully sponsored, the project will carry the name of your
company and this will be noted as such in any correspondence
Your company will be acknowledged in media releases for the RRWG
Your company will be acknowledged on the RRWG web site and in articles on the
grouping in every edition of the EWT’s quarterly journal Endangered Wildlife
Your company will be given the option to put up a display at the annual
Farmers’ Day
One annual field trip will be organized for you to visit one of the RRWG
projects
Once a year, the RRWG project executant will come to your office and give a
talk to your staff or clients
Your company’s branding can be displayed on the RRWG project vehicle, field
clothing and so on.
Your company will be invited to take up one table of 6 persons at one of the
Endangered Wildlife Trust’s talk and dinner evenings
Other marketing and PR opportunities can be explored as per your request


8. PROJECT ADMINISTRATION

The Endangered Wildlife Trust is a registered Non Profit Organisation (NPO
number 015-502). Accounting procedures follow Generally Accepted Accounting
Practices (GAAP). External auditors, Deloitte and Touche, audit the Endangered
Wildlife Trust annually and audited financial statements are made available to
all interested parties.


9. BACKGROUND OF THE ORGANISATION

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT)

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is a non-governmental, non-profit,
conservation organisation, founded in 1973. The EWT conserves threatened species and
ecosystems in southern Africa by:

Initiating research and conservation action programmes
Implementing projects which mitigate threats facing species diversity and
Supporting sustainable natural resource management.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust communicates the principles of sustainable
living through awareness programmes to the broadest possible constituency for the
benefit of the region.

The EWT operates in a unique manner, having established Working Groups
through which the mission and objectives of the Trust can be achieved. These Working
Groups form the backbone of the organisation and are essentially self-managed
programmes harnessing the talent and enthusiasm of a dynamic network of
individuals who specialise in an area of conservation importance and have developed
unique expertise in response to the challenges they face.


These Working Groups include:

African Wattled Crane Programme (AWAC)
Airports Company of South Africa Strategic Partnership (ACSA-EWT)
Bat Conservation Group (BCG)
Blue Swallow Working Group (BSWG)
Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) Southern Africa
Conservation Leadership Training Group (CLG)
Eskom Strategic Partnership
Law and Policy Working Group (LPWG)
Oribi Working Group (OWG)
Poison Working Group (PWG)
Raptor Conservation Group (RCG)
Riverine Rabbit Working Group (RRWG)
South African Crane Working Group (SACWG)
The Carnivore Conservation Group (CCG)
The Marine Conservation Group (MCG)
Vulture Study Group (VSG)
Wildlife Biological Resource Centre (wBRC)



Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex.... It takes a
touch of genius ---- and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.
Albert Einstein.

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