Expanding Africa’s Wild Frontiers with Peter Chadwick

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Robin's Nest from American Humane

Episode: Expanding Africa’s Wild Frontiers with Peter Chadwick

Host: Dr. Robin Ganzert
Guest: Peter Chadwick, CEO of Conservation Landscape Institute
Release Date: October 20, 2025

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Overview

This episode of Robin’s Nest features an in-depth conversation with Peter Chadwick, a renowned conservation specialist, photojournalist, and CEO of the Conservation Landscape Institute (CLI). With almost 40 years of experience across 25 African countries, Peter discusses the transformative efforts to restore and connect ecosystems in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. The episode explores the collaborative conservation model being developed as a global blueprint, the challenges and successes of frontline conservation, the power of visual storytelling, and the personal inspiration behind a life dedicated to wildlife protection.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Peter Chadwick’s Conservation Journey

• Early Inspiration:
  • Peter grew up in Zimbabwe, inspired by his father to spend time outdoors, cultivating a passion for conservation.
    • "I grew up in the bush of Zimbabwe. My father inspired me to stay out in the outdoors and I think that grew the passion for conservation." —Peter Chadwick [01:06]
• Diverse Experience:
  • His career spans 25 African countries over almost four decades, witnessing both the difficulties and privileges of working in a continent with rich biodiversity and complex challenges.
• Returning to the Eastern Cape:
  • Peter views the Eastern Cape as a "pivot" to concentrate his experiences and innovations for global conservation.
    • "We can take the Eastern Cape as an incredible pivot to the rest of the globe. What do we do for conservation into the future?" —Peter Chadwick [01:52]

Challenges in Frontline Conservation

• Rising Wildlife and Environmental Crime:
  • Significant increase in global wildlife crime, now a syndicated criminal activity.
    • "Wildlife and environmental crime increasing as a global syndicated criminal activity... we've never been at such a pivotal point of our future existence..." —Peter Chadwick [02:55]
• Hope and Progress:
  • Despite setbacks, there’s global momentum for positive change.
    • Peter reflects on the human-induced state of the earth but stresses the unprecedented energy for solutions.
    • "Never in the history of mankind has there been such a global movement for moving forward in a positive direction." —Peter Chadwick [03:22]
• Case Study: Elephant Conservation:
  • Early in his career, participated in elephant culling; this painful process spurred innovation in elephant translocation.
    • "Some of my first duties were on those culling operations. And it was tragic... But through that process we actually moved the first elephant calves to a new protected area... it taught us that then if we can move calves, we can move adults. And now we’re able to translocate elephants." —Peter Chadwick [03:08–04:21]

Vision for Connected Conservation Landscapes

• The Eastern Cape Model:
  • CLI’s mission is to create a connected conservation landscape from 450,000 hectares to over a million, integrating coast to arid Karoo.
  • Emphasizes the necessity of balancing environmental, biodiversity, and community benefits.
    • "It's not about Conservation Landscapes Institute or Wilderness Foundation, it's about the environment, about biodiversity, but it's also about the people." —Peter Chadwick [05:40]
• Collaboration Across Sectors:
  • Noteworthy willingness in the Eastern Cape among government, NGOs, private sector, landowners, farmers, hunters, and conservationists to collaborate.
    • "National government, provincial government, NGOs, private sector, farmers, hunters, conservationists, to actually sit around the same table in the same direction... it's really what's going to unlock this innovation and transformation." —Peter Chadwick [06:37]

The Bushman’s River Corridor and Tanglewood Project

• Project Details:
  • Tanglewood: About 1,000 hectares in the Bushman's River Valley, forming a vital corridor linking northern and southern private reserves.
  • Aim to drop fences, creating a contiguous 150,000-acre landscape for key species like black rhino, cheetah, and elephants.
  • The area now boasts over 1,000 documented species, including 20+ that are endangered or threatened.
    • "Once we start getting to that scale, we can start talking about real socio-economic benefits... very difficult as a small property... to create meaningful benefits for our communities..." —Peter Chadwick [09:38]
• Transformation from Hunting to Conservation:
  • The Brad and Alice Andrews Preserve, previously a hunting property, now represents a beacon of progressive conservation.
    • "That land was, was a hunting area... not a very positive hunter. He was anything that kind of moved, he took out. Certainly not progressive to the landscape... this is the first fence that drops." —Peter Chadwick [10:52–11:22]
  • Cutting the first fence serves as a catalyst for broader participation and optimism in the region.

The Power of Storytelling and Photojournalism

• Visual Conservation Storytelling:
  • Photography as a tool to raise awareness and drive action in the “millisecond world” of media.
  • Works with the International League of Conservation Photographers to share urgent environmental stories, sometimes reaching tens of millions worldwide.
    • "The quickest way to do that is through an impactful image... what are the critical stories that need to be told? ... Some images get seen by sort of 40, 50 million people. So it's not the solution, it's part of the awareness." —Peter Chadwick [12:53–15:32]
• Role in Shifting Policy:
  • Cites project with Photographers Against Wildlife Crime, which influenced attitudes within China towards wildlife protection.
    • "The Chinese Communist Party have actually endorsed the work that we've been doing..." —Peter Chadwick [15:00]

Personal Inspiration: The Black Rhino

• Why the Black Rhino?
  • Sees the black rhino as a symbol of Africa's strength, independence, and conservation hope.
    • "Black Rhino, for me, is an icon of Africa... if we can look after the Black Rhino, it means that we’re looking after places like this because for black rhino to thrive, they need a healthy environment." —Peter Chadwick [16:16]
  • The black rhino’s survival ensures the well-being of its entire ecosystem.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Progress and Hope:
  • "Where people have a problem in front of them, we're able to find a solution. And that keeps me excited, that keeps me positive, is let's find those solutions that pivot us in the right direction." —Peter Chadwick [04:29]
• On Collaboration:
  • "Success is about partnerships and, and the more that we can excite people and, and enthuse people and grow that partnership, the greater the success, the greater the impact." —Peter Chadwick [17:51]
• On Awareness:
  • Dr. Robin Ganzert: "You can't protect what you don't love. You can't love what you don't know. And on the flip side, you can't solve for problems if you're not aware of those problems." [15:32]
• On Urgency:
  • "We have to act with urgency because we know the biodiversity crisis is real and we must act together in collaborations." —Dr. Robin Ganzert [17:11]

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Important Timestamps

• 01:06 — Peter shares his early life stories and origin of his conservation passion.
• 02:55 — Reflections on challenges, particularly increases in organized wildlife crime.
• 03:08–04:21 — Impactful story about elephant culling turning into elephant translocation innovation.
• 05:40–07:16 — CLI’s vision and the keys to collaboration in the Eastern Cape.
• 08:02–10:42 — Description of Tanglewood, the Bushman’s River Corridor, and the Brad and Alice Andrews Preserve.
• 12:53–15:32 — The role of photography and storytelling in conservation.
• 16:05–16:16 — Why Peter is inspired by the black rhino and what it represents for conservation success.
• 17:47–18:08 — The importance of partnerships and leaving a conservation legacy.

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Conclusion

Peter Chadwick’s approach in South Africa’s Eastern Cape blends innovative landscape restoration, community collaboration, and powerful storytelling—offering a hopeful blueprint for global conservation efforts. The episode spotlights real-world examples of transformation, from ending damaging hunting practices to igniting community and global action, and reminds listeners that effective conservation is always a partnership—of people, expertise, and passion.

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Transcript

[A]

Welcome to Robin's Nest. Many of us feel a deep bond with animals, from the pets we cherish at home to the endangered species in nature. Join us for lively, informative conversations where together we will build a more humane world. Welcome back to Robin's Nest. Today I'm honored to welcome Peter Chadwick, a distinguished conservation Specialist with nearly 40 years of experience across 25 African countries. As CEO of the Conservation Landscape Institute, he is leading efforts to restore and connect critical ecosystems in South Africa's Eastern Cape, protecting endangered species while supporting local communities. A pioneer in counter poaching strategies and a globally recognized conservation photojournalist. Peter's work has inspired millions. Well, I'm so excited to be with you today, Peter, because you've inspired so many. You have done work, impressive work in 25 countries over for 40 years. And I'm looking at you and I'm thinking It should be 40 countries, 25 years because I can't believe you've been doing this since you were a baby.

[B]

It sounds like, yeah, very fortunate and thank you for this opportunity. You know, I grew up in the bush of Zimbabwe. My father inspired me to stay out in the outdoors and I think that grew the passion for conservation. I think certainly when I studied conservation, I never believed that I'd end up doing it and working in the places that I have. So, so it's been a rough sometimes journey, but incredible and I think an incredible privilege of what an incredible continent that we have here in Africa. And I think the sort of the learnings across those countries have pulled me back to the Eastern Cape as an opportunity that can really pivot all of the learnings in different places of the continent because it's all happening in one environment. So, so we can take the Eastern Cape as a incredible pivot to the rest of the globe. What do we do for conservation into the future? And I think what we developing with this partnership is going to be innovative, it's going to be catalytic and it's going to transform how things are done in the future. All from this unknown province here.

[A]

You know what is amazing, what you've just said is so remarkable because again, having done work over 40 years and to say this, what we're doing today is so empowering, impactful and so future forward in thinking and has such impact not just for the Eastern Cape, but again, as a model for around the world. It's so exciting. It's so very exciting because you have seen it in 40 years. And what you said is important too for the next generation of conservationists who might be tuning in today to Robin's Nest. It's hard work and in 40 years you've had good days and bad. Tell us a little bit about some of the challenges you've seen driving frontline conservation work over 40 years.

[B]

Yeah, you know, I think there's definitely good and bad and that's part of the growth. I think, you know, some of the, some of the big changes that I've seen I think is sadly around wildlife and environmental crime increasing as a, as a global syndicated criminal activity. And we can delve into that. But if we've, we've also made progress in that time and I think it's important you can drown very quickly in the world is slipping backwards. And yes, we've never been at such a pivotal point of our future existence because of the state, human induced state of the earth. But I think we had such an exciting point because never in the history of mankind has there been such a global movement for moving forward in a positive direction. I think a good example, when I started orphan conservation way back when elephants were still being culled, some of my first duties were on those culling operations. And it was tragic. You know, you're taking from the little one right through to the matriarch and the bulls. But through that process we actually moved the first elephant calves to a new protected area with sadly, without their, their parents and herd. It didn't, it wasn't the right thing to do from a social perspective for the elephants, but it taught us that then if we can move calves, we can move adults. And now we're able to translocate elephants. And I think because of that, you know, culling has stopped in many places.

[A]

Wonderful.

[B]

And, and it means that where people have a problem in front of them, we're able to find a solution. And, and that keeps me excited, that keeps me positive, is let's find those solutions that, that pivot us in the right direction.

[A]

That's a great story and a great example of it too. In terms of the progress that has been made. That's a significant victory, significant victory for the animals. You're CEO of Conservation Landscapes Institute. Please tell us a little bit about your work.

[B]

So again, you know, exciting, we're in a privileged position because we very much at a starting off position where through the inspiration of the likes of Andrew Muir and Wilderness foundation, they've got this bigger vision of connected landscapes across a 6 to 8 million hectare landscape from coast all the way through to the arid Karoo. But the vision needs to be implemented And I sit with a privileged position of being the implementer and figuring out the strategy that will allow us to achieve this vision of taking the current fragmented conservation landscape, which is probably about 450,000 hectares, through to fruition of a million plus hectares. It's challenging because we starting from ground zero, but where do you get an opportunity like that in the world? And I think importantly, you know, it's not about Conservation Landscapes Institute or Wilderness foundation, it's about the environment, it's about biodiversity, but it's also about the people. So how do we integrate the systems within the landscape that will bring benefits to all? And our role really at Conservation Landscape Institute is to come up with a strategy, implement it, but then also facilitate the variety of negotiations that we need to have with the national government, provincial government and private landowners and NGOs. You know, and I think one thing I do have to say is in my 40, well, not quite 40, but decades in conservation, is that Eastern Cape, there's a willingness between national government, provincial government, NGOs, private sector, farmers, hunters, conservationists, to actually sit around the same table in the same direction and with the same bigger achievement of a global vision. And I think that's really what's going to unlock this innovation and transformation that we can learn from.

[A]

That is so exciting. I mean, and what we are sitting at right here is an example of your very important work. And what I think is so insightful, particularly for the conservationists tuning into today's episode, is that it is the collaboration federal, local, community, importantly, economic incentives, involved landowners, all different kinds of landowners, to come together to drive this. And what we're sitting in right now is this beautiful Bushman's river, which is part of a new project that you're working on at Tanglewood, a great partnership that we're working on together. And today we're here to celebrate the Brad and Alice Andrews Preserve that Global Humane Society is bringing as a stakeholder in your work here. So please describe where we're at and why this is so beautiful.

[B]

So, Tanglewood, it's about a thousand hectares, 2,000 odd acres. It's situated in the Bushman's River Valley. What's really important with this is that we have a network of current private reserves situated to the north of us.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And we have a big private reserve situated to the south of us. The gap in between is this Bushman's river corridor, which is new conservation land. So we're able to drive new thinking, new innovations, but importantly link these fragmented current properties. So individually, you might have 10,000 hectares in one property, 20,000 in another, but their fences in between. Yes. So our first vision and drive is first join these gaps between north and south, but then eventually drop fences which will create a landscape of 15,000. No, 150,000 acres. 150,000 acres, which then becomes significant because it means you can have viable populations of critically endangered black rhino, a suitable cheetah habitat, elephants. And we'll have a through flow. Amazing. And that brings ecosystem functioning. We'll be able to restore the Bushman's river to its full ecological functionality. But importantly, again, once we start getting to that scale, we can start talking about real socio economic benefits. Very difficult as a small property or fragmented property to be able to create meaningful benefits for our communities that live in the landscape. Again, within this landscape it's complicated because we've got NGOs, we've got private landowners and we've got hunting fraternity at the one end, but we've also got very established conservation landscapes together with new thinking and new ideas. So it's certainly a challenging project. But look at it. I mean the Eastern Cape is an unknown province and if we look at Tanglewood and the Brad and Alice Preserve, we're looking at over a thousand species that we've documented in a very short period of time. And there's plenty more that and many of them, I think at least 20 of those are threatened and endangered species.

[A]

That's remarkable. And so we've been able to automatically make a difference, an improvement with Global Humane's partnership right on the ground here with the Braddon Alice Andrews Preserve.

[B]

And I think importantly, you know, take into context that that land was, was a hunting area. And let's be honest, not a very positive hunter. He was he anything that kind of moved, he, he took out.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And certainly not progressive to the landscape. And being able to, to get, to have new land ownership I think is critical. I think what's, what's this is the first fence that drops.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

So people in a new initiative say yeah, we hear what you're doing, but nah, it's not going to happen. But this is happening, this is real, it happened today. This is unlocking enthusiasm for others to actually say let's be part of this early on and grow this thing because it is going to be real. And you know, just speaking to provincial government representation today, yes they've come out and they've seen this landscape and said, man, it's the place for black rhino, it's the place for elephant, we gotta make this happen. And isn't that exciting to be part of something that is leaving a legacy for the future?

[A]

Well, on behalf of Global Humane Society, we're happy to be at the ground level with you as a partner and as a stakeholder and to be able today to cut the fences for the Brad and Alice Andrews preserve. I get a big shout out to our wonderful friends Brad and Alice Andrews for making our dreams, a global humane Society come true. And being an initial stakeholder with you, Peter, on this great and grand vision is very, very important to CLI and of course, Wilderness Africa. You know, you are men with many skills and many talents and one is photojournalism and your ability to be telling stories through photographs. You're a visual storyteller. You're also an excellent audio storyteller. But please share with us about some of the stories that have really impacted you and your journey as a conservation.

[B]

So people ask who am I? And I wear many different hats. And I think, you know, people ask about my photography and for me photography has always been part of the journey. I think it's a conservation tool which when used appropriately can have massive impact. And I think in today's crazy world where we're being bombarded with social media, we are the millisecond world. We're not even in a 7 second world anymore. And how do you grab someone's attention? And the quickest way to do that is through an impactful image. Yes, if you can get people to look at the image, you can hopefully get them to read the headline and then the story. And I think, you know, there's a collective that I work with across the globe, the International League of Conservation Photographers. And what we try and do is look at what are the critical stories that need to be told. You know, war photographers, conflict photographers have been very effective in bringing reality, the horrors of reality to the public. And we try and do the same thing. So what are those critical stories that need to be put out there? I think I've been privileged to work on a number of larger stories from the global plight that seabirds are facing through to the importance of marine protected areas. One of my long term projects. I do a lot of work countering wildlife and environmental crime. So documenting that process across the African continent, it's very sad. It's a horrific and story that's hard to tell and people actually only get a sliver of the reality of it. And I think the value of imagery bringing that to a fore in a non horrific manner, but in an awareness raising manner. And I think you Know, if I look at some of my images, I've been very privileged that it is on an international basis. We've worked with photographers against wildlife crime.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And that has gone into China, that the Chinese Communist Party have actually endorsed the work that we've been doing and have looked at their. The way they have sort of worked with wildlife in the past, and it has brought some benefit at a global level.

[A]

That's incredible.

[B]

Some images get seen by sort of 40, 50 million people. So it's not the solution, it's part of the.

[A]

You have to be awareness. You know, I always say, you can't protect what you don't love. You can't love what you don't know. And on the flip side, you can't solve for problems if you're not aware of those problems. And so you're using your incredible talents to show the horrific side that people don't see in terms of animal abuse and cruelty, and that drives meaningful change. Thank you for that. I want to ask you about on the flip side. We all love animals. You're here because you fell in love with an animal. What was the animal that changed your heart and mind?

[B]

Sure, that's a difficult one. I mean, there are many favorites, but I think probably the. The one that I'm currently focused on is. Is Black Rhino.

[A]

Black Rhino.

[B]

And I think, you know, Black Rhino, for me, is an icon of Africa. Yes, it's independent, it's strong, maybe a little bit grumpy, misunderstood in many cases. But if we can look after the Black Rhino. Yes, it means that we're looking after places like this because for black rhino to thrive, they need a healthy environment. If black rhino occur on the landscape, it means the little butterflies, the birds, the elephant and everything else can. Can thrive. And I think, you know, it's a conservation success story. It's under immense threat through poaching. But if you look at the commitment from people, we've made change. Yes, we can hope the distraction. We can find futures, we can find solutions. We can make people and landscapes and animals thrive if we choose.

[A]

If we choose. Well, I think through your work, people are making that choice and making a meaningful difference. And we have to act with urgency because we know the biodiversity crisis is real and we must act together in collaborations. Collaborations that you are creating through your important work. Important work in partnership with Global Humane Society. Important work, you know, in partnership with Wilderness Africa. Peter, it's so great to be with you today to celebrate this beautiful victory for the Bushman's river corridor here at Tanglewood. It is glorious and I hope to meet you next year at this time. Looking over with a cup of coffee together and seeing black and white rhino reintroduced.

[B]

Absolutely. No, that'll be fantastic. Really look forward to it. And as a sort of a closing comment, I think this is not a journey that you take alone. No. Success is about partnerships and, and the more that we can excite people and, and enthuse people and grow that partnership, the greater the success, the greater the impact. So thank you for this opportunity immensely.

[A]

Thank you so much for being today with us in Robin's Nest. We'll see you soon. Thank you for tuning in to Robin's Nest. We want to hear what you think. Please make sure to review the podcast on your podcast platform. Watch for upcoming episodes that will include new and exciting discussions. If you love animals, you'll love this season of Robin's Nest.

[B]

Sam.