Sanparks' Zonation Plan for Kruger NP- Mon Feb 20, 2012
Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 2:01 pm
From Sanparks Forum Re: Safari lodges and future plans Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 4:05 pm
gmlsmit wrote:Here below is an excerpt from what Dr. Hendricks is employed by SANParks, about the draft Zonation Plan, and which is self explanatory:
“SANParks Management and Scientists team revised the zonation system for the Kruger National Park.
In brief, a very long and detailed report of almost 30pages were produced. On request of the CE I had to convert the detail report into a succinct version of no more than five pages.
The detail report would be used for SANParks internal use whilst the summary document is use for ministerial approval.
The premise for its revision is based on the fact that the zoning plan for Kruger NP as it stands is devoid of the variables that affect it today and its for this reason why SANParks needed to re-think the entire zoning system, completely breaking from the past and embracing the realities of 21st century and the socio-economic pressures of a post-apartheid South Africa.
Regarding the Malelane hotel, the hotel development would fall within the Peripheral Development Zone (see attached high resolution map).
During the process of revising the Zonation Plan it was realized that more view shed and noise shed protection should be given to the wilderness zones in order to preserve the ‘wilderness’ experience. In order to give better protection to the wilderness zones an internal buffer was created i.e. the Peripheral Development Zone (PDZ) of 2km along the Park boundary in which limited development can take place.
This zone should facilitate any future tourism development activities away from sensitive wilderness areas and associated buffers. Along with this, the wilderness zones were pushed further back away from the boundary, particularly in the south-west of the park, where the wilderness qualities are compromised by external peripheral human activities.
‘The PDZ offers opportunities for development that does not impact the adjacent zones, these include Park Access Gates with a development limit of 250 m into the core and activities and accommodation facilities not exceeding 250 beds’.
A viewshed analysis showed that external human activities are visible for 2km into the core of the park and therefore informed the 2km internal buffer zone (the PDZ) in which limited development can take place i.e. the Malelane Hotel. See the attached map illustrating the location of the proposed hotel development within the PDZ.
The process from here onwards is for the CE to establish how best to engage the Minister towards the approval. An official submission to the DG DEA has been prepared.
The above goes back to September 2011 - again NO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION whatsoever.
Unfortunately I cannot post the PDZ plan referred to above on forum.
However if anyone would like to see it please PM me with you email address and I will gladly forward it.
What this boils down to is that SANParks will be permitted to build hotels/lodges whatever accommodating <250 guests within the 2 km wide PDZ.
This will then open the door for the Malelane Safari Resort as well as the hotel/lodges/what you may prefer calling them at Orpen, Phalaborwa, Shangoni and possibly Punda Maria or Pafuri - SANParks are
I may also just mention that on 8 February 2012 a Government Gazette was published in which planned buffer zones 2 km wide (in which development will be restricted), on the outside all National Parks will see the light.
According to my interpretation of what I read - the PDZ and the buffer zones are contradictory.
The Zonation Plan for the KNP drawn up in 2006 is still current. The MSR site on this plan is a Wilderness Area, zoned as Primitive with a High Biodiversity Sensitivity value.
No one can as yet been able to explain to me what has changed since, except for the idea of SANParks who saw an opportunity of building a hotel after the Malelane Sun Hotel had burnt down in 2009.
No one can as at this moment provide me with ANY documentary evidence of the Need and Desirability study done by anyone which indicates that a hotel/hotels are required or needed. What is available is that >85% of the respondents to surveys done on behalf of SANParks by the School for Tourism and leisure of the University of North West have indicated that the KNP should remain as is.
In conclusion I am very regularly in contact with the authorities handling this process and it now appears that the EIA process will not be completed before end March 2012.