SANParks new mandate: Rural Development Agency

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Toko
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SANParks new mandate: Rural Development Agency

Post by Toko »

The business of South African National Parks (SANParks) has historically been that of conserving biodiversity and the associated cultural heritage within the national parks under its management, and SANParks will continue to perform its mandate with diligence in this regard. This 5 Year Strategic Plan, however, represents a paradigm shift in terms of SANParks becoming increasingly relevant to the socio-economic needs of the communities living in the vicinity of the national parks. While the role of SANParks in engaging and working with communities was traditionally referred to as Social Ecology, and subsequently People and Conservation, it has now been redefined as Socio Economic Development thus positioning SANParks as an agency for development, particularly in the rural areas where the majority of the national parks are to be found.
National parks have always played a role as catalysts for development by providing employment and by anchoring the tourism economies in the areas in which they are located. Local business development has also taken place through the procurement programmes of national parks and in more recent years though the support provided to SMMEs through the implementation of Expanded Public Works Programmes in the parks. As reflected in this strategic plan, this good work will continue but will be taken a step further through the implementation of a number of community development projects geared towards providing a platform for communities to engage more productively in a range of aspects of the local economy.
At a conference on the Biodiversity Economy hosted by the Department of Environmental Affairs in Durban in October 2015, SANParks pledged to donate 500 head of game to communities over the next 3 years.
This pledge was based on an assessment of the possible off take of a number of species as part of the SANParks Wildlife Management Programme. A number of community projects have been initiated in order to bring neighbouring communities into the wildlife economy and to give impetus to the implementation of this pledge as one of the components of the strategic objective dealing with the ‘Optimised Contribution to the Green and Blue Economy’.
In addition we will be working together with community structures to provide mechanisms for an increasing engagement with the tourism economy. The Skukuza Conference Lodge in the Kruger National Park, which will be completed within the next three years of the Infrastructure Programme, will contain a component of community beneficiation through a percentage of the revenue going to identified and defined communities.
Two new rest camps geared towards benefiting communities, the Aoub Rest Camp in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and the Lendlovu Rest Camp in the Addo Elephant National Park, will also be constructed during this period.
A range of multi-faceted development initiatives have also been developed in order to provide economic opportunities for a number of communities adjacent to the Kruger National Park as part of the settlement package for the land claim in respect of the Park.
As part of the strategic re-focusing of SANParks it is important to view these claims not only as a challenge but also as an opportunity for a mutually beneficial socio economic engagement between SANParks and the claimant communities.
It should be recognised that both the implementation of SANParks conservation mandate and the fulfilment of its role as an agency for rural development depend to a large degree on the extent to which SANParks can generate revenue through a diverse and vibrant tourism function. In this regard it should be noted that SANParks exceeded R1 billion for the first time in revenue generated through tourism, (including accommodation, conservation and concession fees and other activities) in the 2014/15 financial year.
During the period of this Strategic Plan we remain committed to taking all opportunities of increasing our revenue generation potential by engaging in proactive product development and by maintaining the highest standards of customer service excellence.
In addition our Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme remains a key element of the overall Responsible Tourism Strategy, with this programme now having reached a stage where over 40 PPPs are operating within various national parks generating over R85 million annually with no capital or operating costs to SANParks. With many of these products operating at the high end of the market there is a very high ratio of job creation to beds, with 1 948 sustainable decent jobs currently being maintained in the concessions within a number of the parks. The Malelane Safari Lodge in the south of the Kruger National Park is a new PPP initiative which is due to come to completion during the period of this Strategic Plan.

Mr Fundisile Mketeni, Chief Executive Officer SANParks here: http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1. ... 16_web.pdf


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Re: SANParks new mandate: Rural Development Agency

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Thanks, SANParks, for at least officially putting the financial imperative at the top of the heap now, and stopping the lying for the time being.

Will dissect later, but this entire reasoning is flawed, and flowery political election speak.

Sickening! :evil:


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Re: SANParks new mandate: Rural Development Agency

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It should be recognised that both the implementation of SANParks conservation mandate and the fulfilment of its role as an agency for rural development depend to a large degree on the extent to which SANParks can generate revenue through a diverse and vibrant tourism function. In this regard it should be noted that SANParks exceeded R1 billion for the first time in revenue generated through tourism, (including accommodation, conservation and concession fees and other activities) in the 2014/15 financial year.

Who says so :-?


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Re: SANParks new mandate: Rural Development Agency

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Exactly right, Lis! :yes:


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Re: SANParks new mandate: Rural Development Agency

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This 5 Year Strategic Plan, however, represents a paradigm shift in terms of SANParks becoming increasingly relevant to the socio-economic needs of the communities
Richprins wrote:Thanks, SANParks, for at least officially putting the financial imperative at the top of the heap now, and stopping the lying for the time being.
Also a nice retrospective justification for the lodge / hotel... with all the employment it supposedly provides for the adjecent communities O**


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Re: SANParks new mandate: Rural Development Agency

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Part 1:

This 5 Year Strategic Plan, however, represents a paradigm shift in terms of SANParks becoming increasingly relevant to the socio-economic needs of the communities living in the vicinity of the national parks. While the role of SANParks in engaging and working with communities was traditionally referred to as Social Ecology, and subsequently People and Conservation, it has now been redefined as Socio Economic Development thus positioning SANParks as an agency for development, particularly in the rural areas where the majority of the national parks are to be found.



I am not going to be politically incorrect. Obviously rural communities need to be uplifted and what not. The point is that this does NOT legally, or even constitutionally apply to SANParks, there is a huge Department assigned for exactly this, with mind-boggling budgets. Department of Social Development on 2015/16 Plans:




Following the budget and operational allocation breakdowns, the Financial Outlook described monetary allocations across Programmes 1,3,4,5 for the 2015/16, 2016/17, and 2017/18 years. Programme 1: Administration had a total of R297 million available for 2015/16. Programme 3: Social Security and Administration was allocated R6,756 billion for 2015/16, mostly for transfers and subsidies. Programme 4: Welfare Services Policy Development & Implementation Support was allocated R662 million. Programme 5: Social Policy & Integrated Service Delivery was allocated R359 million for 2015/16.

Lastly, the Financial Outlook described provincial allocations. 2011/12 saw total provincial allocations at R11,574 billion and R16,704 billion is budgeted for 2015/16. From 2011/12 to 2017/18, an average increase of 8.07% in total allocations is anticipated, leading to a 2017/18 total provincial allocation of R18,374 billion.

Distributed among the provinces; Eastern Cape was allocated R2,230 billion, Free State R1,019 billion, Gauteng R3,975 billion, KwaZulu-NatalR2,630 billion, Limpopo R1,537 billion,Mpumalanga R1,367 billion, Northern Cape R709 million, North West R1,333 billion, and Western Cape R1,899 billion.



https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/20809/



It is really not Kruger's problem if the Department cannot effect it's mandate, and effectively taxpayers' money is being used twice!


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Re: SANParks new mandate: Rural Development Agency

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\O 100% agree RP .Why does it always become the Sanparks responsibility to support the neighboring community when there are all the departments and .Gov to do that :no: .Sanparks is a custodian of natural areas not comunities :yes: .I agree they need to have a good working relationship with neigbouring communities .The neighboring community should leverage off the parks attraction of tourists and make their areas more accessible and tourist friendly IMO


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Re: SANParks new mandate: Rural Development Agency

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As said elsewhere, Rog, Kruger alone has provided many Billions of income for national and local industries over the years already, indirectly. Difficult to quantify, but the communities are perfectly aware of that.

The dangerous PRECEDENT will be discussed later!


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Re: SANParks new mandate: Rural Development Agency

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National parks have always played a role as catalysts for development by providing employment and by anchoring the tourism economies in the areas in which they are located.


True! as said! \O







Local business development has also taken place through the procurement programmes of national parks and in more recent years though the support provided to SMMEs through the implementation of Expanded Public Works Programmes in the parks.


Not really, especially in recent years. Kruger, and yes, Kruger is the only relevant financial player in all SANParks, to be honest, has embarked upon a wildly short-term optimistic outsourcing programme, ranging from simple maintenance, road maintenance, restaurants, security etc. to the big Infrastructure developments like Malelane and Skukuza hotels and Skukuza Conference centre. Also the Concessions that continue to sprout up.

All of these involve private companies and tenders leading money away from local communities, even internationally, but mostly to Gauteng. Privatisation/outsourcing is a brutal profit business, and leaves little for the local communities, they have had those respective jobs anyway, and new developments are temporary job creators during election year, then it's over. Same with the Expanded Public Works Programmes...they run at a loss and cost a lot of money versus simple congruent Departmental Social initiatives outside the Park.


ONE CANNOT COMPARE OUTSOURCING TO JOB-CREATION LOCALLY!




As reflected in this strategic plan, this good work will continue but will be taken a step further through the implementation of a number of community development projects geared towards providing a platform for communities to engage more productively in a range of aspects of the local economy.




There is no need for this if, as said above, these projects (New hotels, WAHs, tar roads, entrance gates) provide temporary relief, so to speak. It is not SANParks' duty, and these normally vastly inflated tenders use up taxpayer/tourist money! That is the problem...SP gets bailouts financially for internal disasters, and spends on community projects?

More later....

The timing is bizarre!


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Re: SANParks new mandate: Rural Development Agency

Post by Toko »

Molewa's speech:

https://www.environment.gov.za/mediarel ... budgetvote

Biodiversity Management and Conservation

In the Biodiversity and Conservation space, we want to remind South Africans that we are the 3rd most mega bio-diverse country in the world, and well-positioned to capitalize on our unique and potential renewable natural resources.

We continue to drive the biodiversity economy through our national parks, heritage sites, botanical gardens and a vast network of public and private protected areas.During the past financial year, an excess of 1,9 million people visited our National Botanical Gardens, managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). This is 6% higher than the previous year. As announced last year, we have declared our country's 10th National Botanical Garden at Kwelera near East London.

Our human capital development programme, Groen Sebenza Project, which recruited young people from across the country into the green sector ended in December 2015 having achieved over 950 job opportunities and over 650 actual permanent jobs created. In 2015, 955 were hosted and developed. From these 624 were absorbed into employment.

Our vast network of national parks are also a source of income generation, tourism and job creation. Importantly, our twenty first century national park system, mostly located in the rural areas not only plays a leading role in the conservation of our natural heritage but it is also a significant driver of local economic development.

A number of community projects have been initiated in order to bring neighbouring communities into the wildlife economy. Within the next two months we will deliver through SANParks some animals to a property owned by the Khomani San community adjacent to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park as part of the implementation of this programme.

We are confident that this is a well- managed wildlife operation with mechanisms to ensure the flow of benefits to the community, and this donation represents part of an ongoing partnership to ensure progress on development in this area.

Communities adjacent to a number of other parks including Addo Elephant, Augrabies Falls and the Kruger National Park are also being engaged with a view to supporting the growth of a transformed wildlife economy.

A priority for South Africa is being able to grow a sustainable, inclusive and transformed biodiversity economy with communities. The Biodiversity Economy is largely anchored on three pillars, namely Bio-prospecting, Wildlife and Eco-tourism industries -- all having notable contribution to the country’s economy.

In July 2015, Cabinet approved the National Biodiversity Economy Strategy (NBES) setting out a number of strategic priorities required in order to develop the wildlife and bio-prospecting industries. We have begun to implement the NBES using the Operation Phakisa Delivery Model.

As a pillar of Operation Phakisa Oceans Economy launched by President Jacob Zuma in 2014, the DEA and Tourism Department are adding the marine and coastal tourism element. Other key elements being operationalised are in the area of bioprospecting and wildlife economy in the biodiversity Laboratories titled: "Biodiversity Lab: Growing the economic contribution of South Africa's biological resources."

One of the key elements of this socio-economic development programme, is to transform the wildlife economy industry, in which SANParks plays a key role.

There have also been engagements with emerging game ranchers as part of a process towards developing custodianship or loan agreements with a view to supporting individual entrepreneurs in this sector.

At the same time, several initiatives are underway to boost ecotourism. The SANParks Public Private Partnership (PPP) programmeremains a key element of our overall Responsible Tourism Strategy.

Under this programme 40 PPPs are operating within a number of National Parks, creating a significant number of jobs.

With regard to broader ecosystem conservation, the Protected Area system is our main mechanism to conserve our rich biodiversity. Our protected areas are also key to eco-tourism. As at the end of the 2015/2016 financial year, the total Conservation Estate of South Africa was 14 300 113 hectares which equals to 11.73% of South Africa’s terrestrial surface.


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