Kruger Relationship with Western and Southern Boundary Reserves
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2018 6:04 pm
SANParks becomes a proud signatory to the GLFTCA Cooperative Agreement
10 December 2018
Skukuza – in a historical event that took over three years to conclude, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of South African National Parks (SANParks), Fundisile Mketeni on Wednesday, 05 December 2018 signed a Cooperative partnership agreement with the various conservation areas found on the western border of the Park, including communal areas, state and private reserves with the Greater Kruger area.
“The agreement seeks to address conservation matters and make the most on opportunities within the open system of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP) and surrounding GLTFCA conservation areas. The partnership is essential to ensure a uniform framework for the protection, management and socio-economic beneficiation of the open system conservation footprint, including the regularisation of the conservation area network”, said Mketeni at the signing ceremony.
When asked about why the Agreement was hailed as a historic event, Mr. Glenn Phillips, Managing Executive of Kruger National Park, said, “The Vision of SANParks is to connect society. This is exactly what we are doing though this Agreement. We now officially connect communities, the private sector and other conservation partners to make the Greater Kruger system bigger, more secure, and more relevant to the lives of people who live outside the park”. Mr Phillips stressed that SANParks can’t do it alone. “We call on the South African public to get behind our Management Plan and this Agreement. We are, after all, in this together.”
Signatories to the Agreement included: Makuleke Contractual Park, Makuya Nature Reserve, Letaba Ranch, Gidjana Conservation Area, Balule Nature Reserve, Klaserie Nature Reserve, Timbavati Nature Reserve, Umbabat Nature Reserve, Thornybush Nature Reserves, Kempiana, Manyeleti, Sabi Sand Wildtuin, Mala Mala, Mjejane Game Reserve and Kruger National Park.
The implementation of the Agreement is not a once-off event. Efforts continue alongside the western boundary of Kruger National Park to ensure more entities are supported to join the Agreement process. More contractual parks and other protected areas will be included in the agreement in future; provided they meet a set of minimum requirements, norms and standards of the GLTFCA. These speak to a range of management issues, including responsible tourism, financial sustainability, socio-economic development, wildlife security, disease management, sustainable utilisation, water use and alien plant clearing.
“We recognize the development of the GLTFCA, which aims to facilitate the optimizing of social development opportunities within and adjacent to the Greater Kruger. The focus of this will be to stimulate cooperation in managing landscape-level ecological issues, unlocking sustainable benefits, growing responsible economic development, and promoting compatible land use practices within the GLTFCA. In that way, we will be able to empower local communities and influence them to be part of the solution in tackling issues such as wildlife crime which are a threat to the biodiversity of Kruger National Park; concluded Mketeni.
The establishment of the GLTP began with the signing of the Treaty by the three Heads of State from Mozambique - Limpopo National Park (LNP), South Africa – Kruger National Park (KNP) and Zimbabwe – Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) on 9 December 2002. The Treaty makes provision for the expansion of the GLTP by integrating the areas mentioned in the Treaty through the development of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) and additional areas to be identified by parties.
SANParks looks forward to this new era of conservation in the Greater Kruger. As the African proverb states, “If you want to go fast, travel alone; if you want to go far, travel together.” Thanks to all our partners who have committed to travelling down this exciting, challenging road with us.
Issued by:
Communications & Marketing Department – Kruger National Park.
Media enquiries:
Isaac Phaahla
GM: Communications and Marketing, KNP
Tel: 013 735 4363, cell 083 673 6974
Email: Isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org
10 December 2018
Skukuza – in a historical event that took over three years to conclude, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of South African National Parks (SANParks), Fundisile Mketeni on Wednesday, 05 December 2018 signed a Cooperative partnership agreement with the various conservation areas found on the western border of the Park, including communal areas, state and private reserves with the Greater Kruger area.
“The agreement seeks to address conservation matters and make the most on opportunities within the open system of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP) and surrounding GLTFCA conservation areas. The partnership is essential to ensure a uniform framework for the protection, management and socio-economic beneficiation of the open system conservation footprint, including the regularisation of the conservation area network”, said Mketeni at the signing ceremony.
When asked about why the Agreement was hailed as a historic event, Mr. Glenn Phillips, Managing Executive of Kruger National Park, said, “The Vision of SANParks is to connect society. This is exactly what we are doing though this Agreement. We now officially connect communities, the private sector and other conservation partners to make the Greater Kruger system bigger, more secure, and more relevant to the lives of people who live outside the park”. Mr Phillips stressed that SANParks can’t do it alone. “We call on the South African public to get behind our Management Plan and this Agreement. We are, after all, in this together.”
Signatories to the Agreement included: Makuleke Contractual Park, Makuya Nature Reserve, Letaba Ranch, Gidjana Conservation Area, Balule Nature Reserve, Klaserie Nature Reserve, Timbavati Nature Reserve, Umbabat Nature Reserve, Thornybush Nature Reserves, Kempiana, Manyeleti, Sabi Sand Wildtuin, Mala Mala, Mjejane Game Reserve and Kruger National Park.
The implementation of the Agreement is not a once-off event. Efforts continue alongside the western boundary of Kruger National Park to ensure more entities are supported to join the Agreement process. More contractual parks and other protected areas will be included in the agreement in future; provided they meet a set of minimum requirements, norms and standards of the GLTFCA. These speak to a range of management issues, including responsible tourism, financial sustainability, socio-economic development, wildlife security, disease management, sustainable utilisation, water use and alien plant clearing.
“We recognize the development of the GLTFCA, which aims to facilitate the optimizing of social development opportunities within and adjacent to the Greater Kruger. The focus of this will be to stimulate cooperation in managing landscape-level ecological issues, unlocking sustainable benefits, growing responsible economic development, and promoting compatible land use practices within the GLTFCA. In that way, we will be able to empower local communities and influence them to be part of the solution in tackling issues such as wildlife crime which are a threat to the biodiversity of Kruger National Park; concluded Mketeni.
The establishment of the GLTP began with the signing of the Treaty by the three Heads of State from Mozambique - Limpopo National Park (LNP), South Africa – Kruger National Park (KNP) and Zimbabwe – Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) on 9 December 2002. The Treaty makes provision for the expansion of the GLTP by integrating the areas mentioned in the Treaty through the development of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) and additional areas to be identified by parties.
SANParks looks forward to this new era of conservation in the Greater Kruger. As the African proverb states, “If you want to go fast, travel alone; if you want to go far, travel together.” Thanks to all our partners who have committed to travelling down this exciting, challenging road with us.
Issued by:
Communications & Marketing Department – Kruger National Park.
Media enquiries:
Isaac Phaahla
GM: Communications and Marketing, KNP
Tel: 013 735 4363, cell 083 673 6974
Email: Isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org
