The government and the private reserves that make up the western border of the Kruger National Park have agreed to cooperate in a variety of areas, such as combating wildlife crime, advancing transformation, and boosting the regional economy.
According to Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Barbara Creecy, “collaboration with private reserves near the western limit of the Kruger National Park is vital to ensure that communities live in harmony with nature.”
She made these comments at the conclusion of a meeting she had this week in Mpumalanga with Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) representatives, local residents, and other stakeholders to tackle a number of issues that have sprung up recently.
These include rhino poaching and crimes against animals.
The Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Forum (GKEPF), of which the APNR is a member, and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment agreed to establish three subcommittees to address rhino poaching and combat wildlife crime, economic ecosystems, and the preservation of protected areas.
Governance and administrative roadblocks will also be covered.
The development of the protected areas estate and the creation of chances for communities living on the borders of reserves and the Kruger National Park to benefit are two other significant areas of collaboration.
“Meeting with the Minister to discuss important conservation initiatives to maintain the Greater Kruger area was a true honor. The productive interactions establish a solid platform for group action in this area in support of biodiversity and sustainable development, according to Sharon Hausmann, CEO of the GKEPF.
According to Hausmann, participants in the meeting vowed to continue their support for conservation activities, particularly in the three areas where tighter collaboration was identified.
The draft White Paper on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in South Africa and the draft Game Meat Strategy were made available for public comment by the Minister, who urged all interested parties to engage in the policy-making process.
It was recently cleared for public discussion by the cabinet. The White Paper and Strategy will soon be published in the Gazette for public comment.