SMS Communities

Communication between staff of protected areas, such as national parks, and surrounding communities is often a challenging exercise – particularly in developing countries where stakeholders are frequently remote and isolated through limited infrastructure. Kruger National Park (KNP) has taken significant steps to enhance the quality of its relationship with local communities along the Western border of the Park (Bushbuckridge) through the creation of a “People & Conservation Unit”. The Social Ecologists within this unit are employees of KNP and work directly with the local communities - holding meetings and events, for example, to ensure there is good communication and collaboration between the Park and local stakeholders.

t4cd has now partnered with the People & Conservation Unit to assist in the implementation of an innovative mass messaging system, which uses SMS as a tool to communicate with key community representatives in Bushbuckridge. The project, named “SMS Communities” is taking advantage of the phenomenal rise of mobile phone use and ownership throughout South Africa. It uses an internet-based SMS platform (SMS Malls) to send messages to community members inviting them to attend meetings with park staff, or special events. This builds on existing methods of communication (including expensive landline telephone and face-to-face meetings) and has been well received by the local people.

The system enables the social ecologists to contact community members in real time and at low cost about public meetings and events, saving on the expense of physical travel to an area, or costly land line calls, to make the necessary arrangements. The SMS platform also enables community members to send messages back to the Kruger’s system, at local rates.

Ultimately the aim is that this facility can be used to receive emergency messages from local people about DCAs (Damage Causing Animals). DCAs are one of the main sources of friction between National Parks and local communities. Animals, such as elephants and leopard, that manage to escape the boundaries of protected areas may trample crops, consume livestock, and sometimes even pose a threat to human life. This has a negative effect on local livelihoods and generates considerable resentment. If SMS Communities can facilitate a more rapid response to human-animal conflict incidents, and provide the necessary information to target responses to greatest effect, then it will deliver even greater conservation and livelihoods benefits.