The Garden Route National Park
“Conservation without boundaries”
Conservation in South Africa
• SA ranked 3rd highest country in the world in
terms of biodiversity richness – 122 mil ha
• SANParks contributes towards the national target
of increasing areas under formal state protection
conservation) from 6% (7.5 mil. ha) to 8%
– 22 National Parks (4 mil. ha).
National conservation targets
South Africa’s National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan. Dept. Environmental Affairs &
Tourism, Pretoria.
Figure 1. Priority areas for conservation action.
Areas are: 1. North Eastern escarpment; 2. Bushveld-Bankenveld; 3. moist grasslands; 4. Central grasslands; 5. South Eastern
Escarpment; 6. Maputaland-Pondoland; 7. Albany Thicket & Wild Coast: 8. Cape Floristic region and; 9. Succulent Karoo.
Garden Route Protected Areas
Ha
11200
34300
23500
42380
34520
25200
43744
• 252,600 ha - total of all Protected Areas including MPA’s
• 157,000 ha - currently managed by SANParks
• 86,260 ha - currently managed by CapeNature and ECPB
32250
Area currently managed by SANParks
SANParks
management areas
Land cover
Ha
Indigenous forest
43 500
Fynbos (incl. MCA)
80 000
Lakes and estuaries
3 400
Marine
27 500
Infrastructure (roads; staff
houses; etc.)
2 600
Total
157 000
What makes the proposed GRNP
unique?
• Diverse biomes ( from mountain to ocean)
– The largest continuous complex of indigenous forest in the
country
– Aquatic systems: The Knysna estuary (no 1) and Wilderness
Lakes (No 6)
– Fynbos: The Garden Route falls within the Cape Floristic Region
which is designated as a global biodiversity hotspot.
– Marine: Oldest MPA in Africa & one of the most important marine
conservation areas.
• The Garden Route is ranked as the 3rd most preferred tourism
destination in SA.
What makes the proposed GRNP
unique?
• Footprint straddles between two Provinces; two District
Municipalities; and four Local Municipalities;
• The Garden Route is regarded as one of the country’s
biggest development nodes and balancing
development and conservation will require innovation
that will promote responsible sustainable tourism (DEAT
process).
What makes the proposed GRNP
unique?
• Boundaries (Administrative/ cadastral & Ecological )
– Administrative: Proclaimed cadastral
– Ecological: Patterns and processes
• Conservation within the ecological boundaries requires
multi- stakeholder partnership (‘Conservation without
boundaries’ )
Legislative framework for the GRNP
• National Parks managed in terms of NEMPAA (Act 57 of
2003).
• Additional to NEMPAA - The National Forest Act and
the Marine Living Resources Act will also apply.
• NEMPAA makes provision for “dual designation” of
protected areas, mainly for the purpose of management
effectiveness
Milestones
• 1912 : Stevenson-Hamilton first initiated the concept of
National Parks.
• 1926 : Kruger NP established.
• 1936 : Indigenous Forests proposed to be National Park
• 1964 : Tsitsikamma NP proclaimed.
• 1985 : Wilderness NP & Knysna National Lake Area
proclaimed.
• 2005 : GR Protected Area planning processes
• 2005 : Delegation of indigenous forests to SANParks.
• 2007 : Minister’s media launch
• 2008 : Proposed GRNP gazetted.
Areas gazetted
Benefits of a GRNP
• Ecological services: how our natural habitat
contributes towards human well being.
– Management MCAs
– Maintain natural open spaces for recreation
and tourism
– Carbon sequestration (storage) that is
important for reducing the impacts of climate
change
Benefits of a GRNP
• Sustained Socio-economic
– Aesthetic value contributes towards sustainable
tourism and economic growth.
– SANParks second largest employer in region
(372 permanent & 750 contract personnel.)
– The total economic contribution of SANParks
towards the region are calculated at R 94 636 539 p.
annum
Process of proclamation
• Intention to proclaim GRNP gazetted 21
November 2008.
• GRNP to be proclaimed towards mid 2009.
• Management plan for GRNP to be submitted
within 12 months after proclamation.
Management plan for the GRNP
• First draft for public comment : June 2009.
• Management Plan to include:
– Land consolidation/inclusion strategy
– Fine scale biodiversity map to inform land use
planning
– Integrated fire management plan
– Alien plant mapping and costing
– Tourism development and implementation plan
– Socio-economic study
The Garden Route National
Park…
‘Conservation without
boundaries’ is everyone’s
responsibility.
THANK YOU
QUESTIONS?