06/09/2005 -Following an
extensive process of negotiation and discussion
between government, conservation groups, and
concerned stakeholders, Marthinus van Schalkwyk,
Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism,
as part of the celebrations of Tourism Month,
today announced his intention to proclaim
South Africa ’s 22nd National Park in the
area surrounding Graaff-Reinet. “The creation
of a new National Park is always cause for
great celebration, but this initiative has
even greater potential for the future. With
the boost that this development will bring
to the Camdeboo area and its people, we are
again proving that conservation and communities
prosper best together,” said the Minister,speaking
from within the proposed park.
“This announcement has been made possible
by the exceptional generosity of the World
Wide Fund for Nature in South Africa (WWF-SA),
which has donated the 14500 hectare Karoo
Nature Reserve to be the centerpiece of the
project,” said the Minister. Comprising seven
erven around Graaff-Reinet, the donated land
is estimated to be worth more than R23 million.
A public consultation process will be initiated
to determine the name for the park.
“Our Department will now invest another R6
million over the next three years from our
Poverty Relief programme to create jobs and
further develop the necessary facilities to
make this new park an engine of growth for
the region,” said the Minister. “The Peace
Parks Foundation and the SA National Parks
Trust have each pledged a further R1 million
over the next two years to SANParks for the
management of the new park.”
“Although the Eastern Cape is amongst the
three most visited provinces by our domestic
tourists, it ranks third lowest in terms of
attracting international visitors,” said the
Minister. “Developing world-class ecotourism
attractions, combined with the unmatched cultural
heritage of this area will help us to increase
the benefits of tourism to all communities.”
During 2004 the Camdeboo area sold 213 000
bed nights of accommodation, generating about
R99 million in tourism revenue and supporting
almost 700 jobs. With a projected growth rate
of 5% per year – soon to be further boosted
by the new park – it is estimated that annual
tourism revenue will increase to more than
R154 million by 2009.
Speaking about the longer-term plans for
expanding the park once proclaimed, Minister
Van Schalkwyk said: “Our vision for the future
is ultimately to link our new National Park
with the Mountain Zebra National Park – creating
a unique African Karoo wildlife experience
and protecting a huge diversity of plant and
animal species. This will assist in the conservation
of the endangered Cape Mountain Zebra.” The
Mountain Zebra Park has expanded from its
original 6500 hectares to more than 23000
hectares – linking the two parks could result
in a mega-conservation area over 120km in
length and including up to 520 000 hectares
of land under different forms of conservation
management.
Thanking the WWF-SA, the Peace Parks Foundation
and the SA National Parks Trust for their
partnership in this project the Minister also
took the opportunity to pay tribute to the
vision of Dr. Anton Rupert. “Dr Rupert has
been instrumental in driving the vision of
a National Park in this area, and both this
donation and the decision to proclaim the
new park are testaments to his personal commitment
to conservation. Dr Rupert’s contribution
to securing our conservation future cannot
easily be measured in Rands and cents – rather
its real value will be measured by our future
generations to whom we are passing on Southern
Africa ’s unmatched natural heritage.”
