Mission Critical Operations to Address Africa’s Conservation Crisis
About Dyck Advisory Group (DAG)
Founded by Colonel Lionel Dyck after decades of leading military operations in Africa and Europe and business solutions in the fields of de-mining, explosive ordnance disposal, security, and anti-poaching.
Strategic operations to stabilize urgent conservation crises to protect African wildlife and habitats while establishing long-term capacity building and maintenance of stability.
Close collaboration with government agencies, NGO partners, and local stakeholders.
Results driven: 65-90% reduction in rhino poaching where we work in the Greater Lebombo Conservancy (GLC) in Mozambique; impact on reduced poaching rates in Kruger National Park.
Recognized and respected by governments and the private sector for leadership, strategy and successful solutions to complex environmental conservation issues.
Dyck Advisory Group is incorporated in South Africa. Conservation operations are supported by non-profit charities, including GEOS, a US-based 501(c)(3) charity.
Col. Dyck provides his services on a Pro Bono basis.
COLLABORATION IN THE GLC:
DAG and its team collaborate with numerous entities to achieve a common goal of reducing poaching and saving rhino and other wildlife, including:
The Government of Mozambique
Mozambique’s National Agency for Conservation Areas (ANAC)
Peace Parks Foundation
South Africa National Parks Authority (SANParks)
Southern African Wildlife College
Sabie Game Park
The International Anti-Poaching Foundation
World Wildlife Fund
ADDRESSING CRITICAL CONSERVATION ISSUES IN AFRICA:
DAG plays a defined, yet critical, role in the overall effort to protect at-risk species through direct on-the-ground action and collaboration with key stakeholders and policymakers who are focused on wildlife conservation, habitat protection, law enforcement and community engagement.
Our goal is to provide concrete, measurable results. We establish stability in an at-risk area, create a climate where capacity has been built for ongoing stability and then withdraw. Our approach to securing an area in crises involves a “shock action” phase which typically lasts 6-9 months.
The second phase is the “consolidation phase” which involves further stabilizing the region and capacity building over another 12-24 months.
DAG conservation operations include:
Anti-poaching operations: We train and lead our own African rangers and scouts in anti-poaching units (APU), and:
provide necessary, equipment, transportation and support anti-poaching strategy and action plans for government agencies, NGOs, other partners to safeguard wildlife in national parks, private reserves and communal lands
Ranger training: In partnership with others, DAG leads scalable training programs to build capacity in other protected areas for combating increasingly militarized criminal poaching syndicates in search of rhino, elephant or other wildlife.
Translocation of African wildlife: Strategy, planning, and execution of translocations when critically needed due to lack of security for an endangered species, lack of habitat carrying capacity, or community conflict.
SAVING RHINO INT GLC-COUNTER POACHING TACTICS:
DAG seeks to conserve rhino, and other wildlife, in viable and ecologically functional populations in their natural environments. Protecting Kruger National Park’s (KNP) rhino population is critical for the overall survival of the species.
Our goal is (a) reduce rhino poaching in KNP by restricting the free movement of poachers through the GLC in Mozambique and (b) re-establish a safe-haven for rhino in Mozambique.
Collaterally, all other species benefit from protection put in place by our operations.
Tactically, DAG protects rhino and other wildlife by denying poachers access to and freedom of movement in critical wildlife habitat. When an illegal incursion occurs, DAG provides rapid action deployment of APU teams via truck, helicopter, and fixed-wing aircraft.
We work in close partnership with Mozambique military and law enforcement officers to apprehend poachers and weapons with a goal of arrest and prosecution. Rapid reaction enabled by land and air transport, tracking dogs, communications, coupled with a high degree of training, leadership and support resources is the key to our success.
By saving endangered wildlife on the front lines our goal is to give NGO’s focused on structural demand reduction campaigns the breathing room they need for their critically important long-term efforts to take hold.
DAG, with partners, currently operates anti-poaching efforts inside Mozambique’s GLC — a critical region for rhino conservation. Located to the east of South Africa’s KNP, the GLC is a critical buffer area between 40% of the world’s
remaining rhinos in KNP and communities to the east from which many poachers operate.
In 2013, the rhino was considered extinct in Mozambique and a rhino had little chance of survival. Now, with successful, ongoing anti-poaching efforts, a new population of 9 or more white rhino has taken up residence in the GLC with another
15 migrating between KNP and the GLC daily. Mozambique now has a chance to again become re-classified as a Rhino Range State.
DAG operates under specific mandate from the government of Mozambique in collaboration with local agencies and partners including Mozambique’s National Agency for Conservation Areas (ANAC), South Africa National Parks Authority
(SANParks), public and private game reserves, and others.
RESULTS:
Since commencing operations in the GLC in November 2015, DAG, with its partners, has:
Reduced rhino poaching rates in our area of operations on the front line of the poaching war by 65%+.
Dramatically reduced poacher access to KNP - poaching rates in KNP due west of the protected zone are down 70-90% with poaching within KNP down 20% overall.
Deployed teams of highly trained anti-poaching rangers with specialized tracking dogs, helicopter and fixed wing aircraft to directly protect 160,000 acres and quick reaction force support to another 50,000 acres of critically important rhino habitat.
The shared border between the GLC and Kruger is 104 miles long – DAG oversees direct APU management of 52% of this border with a quick reaction force operational zone covering 63% of the entire border.
Supported local law enforcement agencies to facilitate the arrest of 32 poachers (most are still in jail or awaiting trial) and the seizure of 15 large caliber rifles.
A population of 9 white rhino has safely taken up residence in the GLC for the first time since 2013, with 15+ migrating in and out of the GLC daily.
DAG has received the official mandate from the Mozambique government and has been asked to increase its scope of operations within Mozambique.
URGENT FUNDRAISING IS THE BOTTOM LINE:
Our success speaks for itself by stopping poachers from having access to KNP and reducing the number of animals killed. DAG has the expertise and tactics to get the job done.
We are the best at what we do. What we need is your support to help us continue to deliver these tactics and resources to the areas where it is needed most.
YOU CAN HELP SAVE AFRIC'S WILDLIFE!
DAG must maintain and expand its successful anti-poaching operations to protect rhino, elephant and other wildlife and critical habitat. As a result of its success, DAG has been asked by private stakeholders elsewhere and by the Mozambique government, to assist with expanding our scope of anti-poaching and ranger training operations.
GEOS, a US not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) charity, raise funds in the USA in order to directly support DAG operations.
Together, with your support, we can help one of the poorest countries on earth protect some of our most endangered global wildlife assets.
$400,000 needed to support and expand operations in the GLC for 2017
(In October 2016, our fixed-wing aircraft crashed while on routine patrol. Our two team members who were aboard are ok, but the plane was totaled.
Funds are needed immediately to help replace the plane as well as to purchase a new truck to ensure sufficient transportation in the vast areas we protect.
Other needs include helicopter air time, ranger salaries, radio communication system, field and camp equipment, generator, uniforms, etc.
Budget available upon request.) to support Dyck Advisory Group
GEOS currently seeks funding to support DAG and the anti-poaching operations in the GLC.
GEOS is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Tax id: EIN 27-2241003
All contributions are tax deductible.
Please make checks payable to “GEOS” and reference “DAG GLC Project”
GEOS
1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, #700
Arlington, VA 22209
www.g-eos.org
For inquiries contact: Jason Paterniti: [email protected]
DAG management has overseen the planning, set up and implementation of over 250 projects and operated in 20 post-conflict countries across the globe and have personally led operations reacting to UN Declared Emergencies including the UN Quick Reaction Force into Iraq in 2003, the UN explosive hazard response into Libya in 2011 and CAR in 2013 as well as natural disaster in many areas.
Utilizing our global contacts and supporting organizations as well as our wealth of experience in planning and implementing solutions operations in a broad spectrum of activities the Dyck Advisory Group to continue offering world-class innovative solutions to selected clientele.
DAG maintains a large database of specialists in their chosen field who are available and ready to deploy as required.
Having global experience in all of the theaters shown below DAG can supply bespoke consultancy and advisory services for to suit your needs
Colonel Lionel Dyck
After a military career spanning 26 years Colonel Lionel Dyck established MineTech International, which grew to be one of the largest suppliers of demining, Explosive Ordnance Disposal and specialised security dog providers on the globe. Utilising his global contacts and supporting organizations as well as his wealth of experience in planning and implementing solutions operations in a broad spectrum of activities Colonel Dyck has established a new consulting organisation, the Dyck Advisory Group to continue offering world class innovative solutions to selected clientele
Neill Hobbs CA (SA)
Neill Hobbs is the founding member of Hobbs Sinclair,a medium sized financial services firm, and has been in public practice for over 20 years. Apart from his broad experience in financial strategy, he has managed a number of privately and publicly held corporations, and holds directorships in several companies. A business analyst by nature, Neill has experience in the area of corporate finance and capital markets and is a Senior Business Rescue Practitioner. Neill is a family man, who has a passion for music, military history and his faith.
Max Dyck
Following on from many years spent guiding on the Zambezi River. Max started of his demining career in Mozambique in 1997 and worked his way up to the position of Operations Director MineTech International. He joined the United Nations in 2009 and was a Programme Manager for UNMASin Cyprus, Libya, Darfur, CAR and the DRC. He holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Cyprus International Institute of Management and is a keen trail runner.
Counter-poaching
Explosive hazards management
Canine services
Specialised security
