Project title: “The operation of contemporary hunting in the Graaff-Reinet Region.”

This project aims to explore how contemporary hunting operates in Graaff-Reinet, Karoo, where the proliferation of private game farms has made hunting central to both local economies and eco-tourism. Framed by political ecology and critical environmental history, the research probes how conservation discourses are mobilised to legitimise commodified hunting practices, reshaping land use and access. Whilst proponents frame game farming as ecologically responses, critics argue that it is and perpetuates historical inequalities. By focusing on Graaff-Reinet as a hotspot for eco-tourism activities such as hunting, this research contributes to broader debates on land reform, environmental governance and the social logic of conservation within South Africa.

Key words: Hunting, Conservation, Karoo.