Beyond Safaris: Rethinking Africa’s Wildlife Economy for Resilience

At WTM Africa 2026, a new white paper by ICRT Global reframes Africa’s wildlife not just as a conservation priority, but as a powerful—yet underutilised—economic engine. While tourism already contributes around USD 168 billion to the continent’s GDP, the report argues that reliance on traditional photographic safaris has exposed serious vulnerabilities, particularly during disruptions like COVID-19.

Authored by experts including Dilys Roe, Susan Snyman, and Harold Goodwin, the study advocates for a broader, more diversified wildlife economy. It highlights five key revenue streams—ecotourism, regulated hunting and fishing, wildlife ranching, forest-based products, and carbon markets—emphasising that enterprises combining multiple income sources proved far more resilient during global shocks.

A central message is clear: conservation cannot succeed without meaningful community benefits. Rural populations, often bearing the costs of living alongside wildlife, must see consistent economic returns for conservation to be sustainable. The report also challenges the dominance of non-consumptive tourism, suggesting that carefully managed consumptive practices can generate high-value income in less accessible regions.

Ultimately, the paper calls for wildlife-based land use to compete economically with agriculture and infrastructure. With Africa’s population set to surge, the future of conservation depends on positioning wildlife as a viable, income-generating asset—one that supports livelihoods while preserving biodiversity.