The role of land claim facilities in the conservation of Oribi in South Africa

The majority of biodiversity in South Africa sits in the hands of private owners, which have the task to manage and protect it. Due to the complex political and social situation, this is not always possible and achievable and most of the times the consequence is a bad habitat management, causing damage to species. In this dissertation the case of the antelope specie Oribi (Ourebia ourebi), which is considered the most threatened antelope species in South Africa will be analysed. Distribution, population dynamics, genetics and threats are going to be investigated, using the species as a flagship to draw attention on grassland ecosystems importance. Through the case study of Highover Land Claim, the social and political situation of the country will be highlighted, driving the attention towards the fact that conservation is not only about biology and single species, but about whole habitats and about the involvement and active participation of people and institutions. The only effective solution to protect Oribi and threatened species, eventually, is through biodiversity-value education and through application of circular sustainable economies involving the totality of the stakeholders for the purpose of entire ecosystems protection.