NMCD115: Unit 5 - Nationally Directed Conservation in South Africa

Nationally Directed Conservation in South Africa

Section 5 Outcomes

  • 5.1 SANParks History and Operation:
    • Understand the history and origin of South African National Parks (SANParks).
    • Know the mission, vision, and core pillars of SANParks.
    • Name the criteria required for establishing a national park.
    • Identify and discuss South Africa’s national parks, including their location, history, important species, and main threats.
  • 5.2 South Africa’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan:
    • Discuss the purpose and value of South Africa’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
    • Explain who is responsible for conservation in South Africa.
    • Describe the relationship between international conventions, South African legislation, and South Africa’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

Introduction

  • Every South African citizen is responsible for protecting and conserving natural resources and biodiversity, ensuring the sustainable use of these resources.
  • A national organization is needed for the overhead management and control of environmental management and conservation through legislation.
  • The National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in South Africa ensures that all government departments integrate environmental management into their functions and activities.

5.1 South African National Parks

  • Definition of a National Park: A reserve of natural or semi-natural land, declared or owned by a government, restricted from most development and set aside for human recreation, environmental protection, and conservation. (van As, 2012)
  • Establishment of SANParks: Established in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 57 of 2003.
  • SANParks Mandate: To conserve, protect, control, and manage national parks and other defined protected areas and their biodiversity (SANParks, 2023).
  • SANParks manages 19 national parks.

SANParks Mission and Vision

  • Vision: A world-class system of sustainable national parks reconnecting and inspiring society (SANParks, 2022).
  • Mission: To develop, expand, manage, and promote a system of sustainable national parks that represents biodiversity and heritage assets through innovation and best practices for the just and equitable benefit of current and future generations (SANParks, 2022).
  • SANParks aims to create destinations for nature-based tourism in an environmentally sustainable manner.
  • SANParks is primarily a self-funding entity, generating approximately 80% of its operating budget from its ecotourism business.

SANParks Core Pillars

  • Conservation
  • Responsible Tourism
  • Socio-Economic Development

Criteria to Establish a National Park

  • Ecological Significance
  • Biodiversity Conservation
  • Sustainable Development
  • Accessibility and Infrastructure
  • Cultural/Historical Importance
  • Size & Landscape
  • Stakeholder Support

19 SANParks Locations

  • Addo Elephant National Park – Eastern Cape
  • Agulhas National Park - Western Cape
  • Augrabies Falls National Park - Northern Cape
  • Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Trans-frontier National Park - Northern Cape
  • Bontebok National Park - Western Cape
  • Camdeboo National Park - Eastern Cape
  • Garden Route (Knysna, Tsitsikamma, Wilderness) National Park- Western Cape
  • Golden Gate Highlands National Park - Free State
  • Karoo National Park- Western Cape
  • Kgalagadi Trans-frontier Park - Northern Cape
  • Kruger National Park- Mpumalanga
  • Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site - Limpopo
  • Marakele National Park- Limpopo
  • Mokala National Park- Northern Cape
  • Mountain Zebra National Park - Eastern Cape
  • Namaqua National Park - Northern Cape
  • Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) - Western Cape
  • Tankwa Karoo National Park- Northern Cape
  • West Coast National Park - Western Cape

5.2 South Africa’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

  • Outcomes:
    • Discuss the purpose and value of South Africa’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
    • Explain who is responsible for conservation in South Africa.
    • Explain how international conventions, South African legislation, and South Africa’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan relate to each other.

Overarching Goal

  • To reinforce the protection of South Africa's natural heritage and uphold commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Strategic Objective

  • Address the loss of natural habitat (the biggest threat to biodiversity) by integrating biodiversity considerations into various sectors of the economy.

Outcomes of the Strategy

  • Quantifying and monitoring the economic and societal value of biodiversity.
  • Integrating biodiversity considerations into policy and legislation.
  • Establishing a framework for biodiversity planning and assessment to guide land and resource use decisions.

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP)

  • A document guiding biodiversity conservation efforts.
  • Sets goals, action plans, and aligns with international conventions to implement national policies for biodiversity.
  • NBSAP translates international and national commitments into specific actions, strategies, and targets for biodiversity conservation in South Africa.

5.2.1 Interrelation between International Conventions, South African Legislation, and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

  • International conventions, South African legislation, and South Africa's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) are interconnected and work together to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in South Africa (Govt. RSA, 2015).
  • International Conventions: South Africa is a signatory to international conventions like CBD, UNESCO, and Ramsar, which guide biodiversity conservation globally. (Govt. RSA, 2015).
  • South African Legislation: South Africa has implemented laws and regulations to conserve biodiversity, including the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA).
  • National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP): South Africa's NBSAP is a strategic document guiding biodiversity conservation efforts. It sets goals and action plans and aligns with international conventions to implement national policies for biodiversity (Govt. RSA, 2015; SANBI, 2018).