19 October 2007 - Media
Statement - Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism - FRIDAY, 19 October
2007: Minister van Schalkwyk on 27 August
2007 announced the intention to proclaim
a Garden Route National Park. He today received
a briefing from SANParks in the Garden Route
on the progress being made in this regard.
The Minister said at the briefing that
“South African National Parks (SANParks)
is currently undertaking planning processes
which will inform the realization of the
proposed Garden Route National Park (GRNP).
This Park will include the following:
The currently proclaimed Tsitsikamma and
Wilderness National Parks,
The Knysna National Lake Area,
The Southern Cape Indigenous Forests,
The associated fynbos Mountain Catchment
Areas (MCA’s), and MTO plantation exit areas.
The function of managing the indigenous
forests under the Forest Act (84 of 1998)
is currently delegated to SANParks with
a vision to change this status to an assignment
so that the management responsibilities
are fully transferred to SANParks. The assignment
of these areas will then lay the foundation
for a process towards the proclamation of
all these protected areas as components
of the Garden Route National Park by the
end of March 2008”.
The Minister further said that “Currently
these areas are managed as separate entities
under different legislation, systems, processes
and financial arrangements. The idea is
to integrate the management of these areas
so as to lay a better foundation for protected
area management, and for the management
of eco-systems within the wider Garden Route
bioregional landscape.”
The proposed GRNP is entirely within the
Garden Route Initiative (GRI) planning domain,
which comprises the 6 local municipalities
in the region from Mossel Bay in the West
to Kouga in the East. The GRI is a Global
Environment Facility (GEF) funded partnership
programme and forms part of SANParks strategic
bioregional projects. Partners include local
municipalities, other state agencies, NGO’s,
and other potential beneficiaries. The GRI
aims to conserve and restore the unique
biodiversity and sense of place of the Garden
Route while supporting the sustainable management
of the region and the delivery of benefits
to local communities.
Through this process, a number of planning
products are being developed over a period
of 5 years. These include a land consolidation
strategy with associated maps, alien clearing
mapping, fire management mapping, tourism
plans and identification of benefits for
local communities. The GEF project will
be completed in 2009. The GRNP falls within
the footprint of this planning domain, and
together with other partners in the Region
it is envisaged that there will be a suite
of socio-economic development initiatives
which will be accrued from this process,
including opportunities for public/private
and community partnerships.
“Currently SANParks in the region has a
number of initiatives that are in place
and a variety of tourism products in the
pipeline. As custodians of these national
assets, SANPARKS, with the support of national
departments, DEAT & DWAF, is currently
implementing a number of Expanded Public
Works Programmes, including Working for
Water, Working for the Coast, and DEAT Social
Responsibility Programmes. These programmes
are geared towards conservation of our natural
coastal environment by eradicating alien
vegetation and improving tourist facilities,
whilst at the same time they contribute
towards poverty relief, and job skilling
of workers through training. Since 2004,
all these programmes collectively, have
employed about 800 people from local communities,
said Dr David Mabunda, CEO of SANParks.
This year only, the tourism products which
will be finished include Forest Camping
Decks in the Diepwalle forests, upgrading
of the famous Outeniqua hiking trail, new
chalets in the Wilderness National Park,
boardwalks, and the groundwork for the development
of infrastructure on Thesen’s island.
Riaan Aucamp (Minister's Spokesperson)
+ More
19TH OCTOBER 2007 - WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN
MARINE ASSOCIATION (WIOMSA) TO ASSESS MARINE
MANAGEMENT AT A SYMPOSIUM IN DURBAN, SOUTHERN
SUN ELANGENI: 22ND - 26TH OCTOBER 2007
Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, will
deliver a keynote address at the 5th Western
Indian Ocean Marine Sciences Association
symposium aimed at creating a forum to promote
dialogue amongst scientists and stakeholders
on the effective way of protecting marine
environment.
The Fifth Symposium is organized jointly
by WIOMSA, established in 1993, and the
Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) of
Durban, South Africa. The theme of this
Symposium is “Advances in Marine Science
in Eastern Africa: “Science, Policy and
Management: pressures and responses in the
Western Indian Ocean region”. Valuable inputs
for best practice on marine management are
expected from 350 participants who will
converge on Durban from 28 countries.
In addition to providing a discussion forum
for the exchange of ideas, experiences,
and knowledge on coastal and marine issues
in the WIO region, the Symposium will further
serve two other important and practical
functions: the assessment of the advancement
of marine science research in the WIO region
and its application to coastal management;
and the identification of priority themes
and areas for future marine science research
in the WIO region.
The evening of the 22nd October will culminate
with the Deputy Minister launching a book
and presenting awards to members who have
rendered notable service to marine science
development and research.
Journalists are invited to attend and interview
the Deputy Minister and the delegates. For
further information please contact:
Mr Moses Rannditsheni
Media Liaison Officer for the Deputy Minister
Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
+ More
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE OCEAN - NATIONAL MARINE
WEEK 15 - 20 October 2007
15 October 2007 - Media Statement - Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism - MONDAY,
15 OCTOBER 2007: National Marine Week is
celebrated this year under the theme Opportunities
in the ocean'.
The theme "Opportunities in the ocean"
emphasizes the potential contribution of
the country's marine resources to support
the socio- economic development of our nation.
Opportunities exist across the following
marine and coastal ecosystem services: food
provision and security; climate and weather;
sea trade; culture and recreation; mining
and minerals and beneficial chemical compounds.
Food provision and security
It has long been established that fish and
other sea food are healthy alternatives
in a balanced diet. While the formal commercial
sector lands more than half a million of
fish products, several communities in all
coastal provinces support their livelihoods
through recreational and subsistence fishing.
Nowadays we are beginning to unlock the
potential of our long coastline in identifying
suitable habitats to grow suitable species
in marine aquaculture facilities. Products
from these fish farms can add to our wild
fish stock products to meet growing local
and international demand.
Climate and weather
Much of the climate we enjoy is influenced
by the large ocean space around our country.
Climate and the weather create opportunities
in agriculture, fishing and sea trade. It
can however result in catastrophic natural
disasters through storms and erosion. To
take full advantage of the energy of the
ocean and climate, the power of weather
and the sea can be harnessed to contribute
to our energy production requirements.
Sea trade
South Africa has several commercial and
fishing harbours. The Durban harbour is
the busiest harbour in Africa, processing
well over a million containers of goods
a year. South Africa also has specialist
harbours like Richards Bay and Saldanha,
which specialise in coal and iron ore transport
respectively. Ngqurha (Coega) is the newest
edition to our commercial ports and has
great potential with its deep port facilities.
Culture, recreation and tourism
The fishing harbours not only concentrate
on commercial fishing activity but also
serve to attract many marine and coastal
recreational and tourism activities. Besides
catering for several different types of
recreational and tourism activities our
coast has cultural and heritage significance
to many of our communities. Such communities
regard the coast as special places of community
gathering and worship.
Mining and minerals
Further away from the coast South Africa
is also taking advantage of mining opportunities
spanning oil, gas and diamonds. More recently
we are learning from other parts of the
world that the sea floor has many beneficial
chemical compounds that contribute to pharmaceutical,
food preparation and other industries.
For a National Marine Week Programme, please
visit our website www.deat.gov.za
Mava Scott (Acting Chief Director: Communications)
