ECO DEFENSE GROUP SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF NEW RANGER SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAM IN TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
ECO DEFENSE GROUP SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF NEW RANGER SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAM IN TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
Eco Defense Group is excited to announce the initial phase in its program to support the newly formed “SEAM Team” in Table Mountain National Park. Standing for “Sea, Air, Mountain,” the SEAM team is an elite group of Ranger recruits being trained for the strategic purpose of countering the poaching and criminal threats facing Table Mountain National Park. This is a radical new and highly effective approach to conserving the national park and its pristine wilderness, unique to Africa and a proclaimed Natural World Heritage Site.
The SEAM team is a multi-discipline, clandestine unit implementing a diversity of skillsets and capabilities. Eco Defense Group is proud to offer support and training where necessary and collaborate on the evolution of all three teams under the SEAM program. Working with strategic U.S.-based partners like Cloud Defensive, Vortex Optics, Otte Gear, ANR Design, and Kay Foye Knives, as well as private sponsors, and implementing U.S. special missions unit training expertise, Eco Defense Group is highly invested in the successful implementation of this noble program and has made it a 2022–2023 priority.
“The SEAM program is an evolution not just in capability but in thinking, and we’re grateful to South Africa National Parks for the invitation to be part of this exciting project,” says Eco Defense Group president Nathan Edmondson. “Development of this team and the protection of Table Mountain is a globally important mission.”
A Surge in Crime and the Rise of NGO Leadership
International syndicate-backed crime has risen sharply and has become a significant threat to Southern Africa’s wilderness following the COVID-19 travel shutdowns. Organized poaching operations are now more violent, better funded, and more integrated with transnational criminal networks. These syndicates often benefit from systemic corruption in law enforcement and government structures—an issue well-documented across Southern Africa.
South African Police Service reports and third-party investigations continue to link poaching and environmental crime to corrupt officials, customs agents, and even police officers, severely hindering efforts to prosecute those responsible.
U.S. Government Involvement: A Legacy of Partnership
Historically, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in South Africa have maintained diplomatic and logistical partnerships with conservation groups, providing resources, training, and legal support to assist in the prosecution of wildlife traffickers. U.S. Department of State initiatives like INL (International Narcotics and Law Enforcement) and USAID biodiversity programs have laid foundational efforts in environmental crime prevention.
However, budgetary limitations and the need for agile, field-based solutions have created gaps that NGOs like Eco Defense Group are now stepping in to fill. Unlike large government programs, EDG operates nimbly and tactically—able to train, equip, and empower rangers at the ground level with minimal bureaucratic delay.
“Dynamic thinking is a must, and the SEAM leaders are ensuring a bright future with this modern and ambitious program,” says Edmondson. “We invite our sponsors to join us in this project—what the SEAM Rangers do, they do on behalf of and to benefit the entire international community.”
EDG’s Broader Commitment to Ranger Specialization
The SEAM Team initiative builds on previous Eco Defense Group efforts, including the development of a Fast Rope Program for Table Mountain National Park and the 2021 deployment of a Marine Protection Unit at Addo Elephant National Park.
These initiatives reflect EDG’s belief in a holistic defense strategy: combining elite ranger training, tactical equipment, international intelligence collaboration, and private-sector partnerships to create a lasting impact on the conservation landscape.
The Call to Action
Eco Defense Group continues to work closely with South African National Parks, local law enforcement, and international partners to create a defense network that can adapt to the evolving threat landscape. With the support of committed sponsors and forward-thinking collaborators, EDG is proving that private initiative can lead public change.
To learn how to support the SEAM Team and other EDG-led efforts, visit: https://ecodefensegroup.org
Photos: Matt Moon