PEOPLE AND PARKS PROGRAMME CONSERVATION FOR THE PEOPLE WITH THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE

Transcription

1 PEOPLE AND PARKS PROGRAMME CONSERVATION FOR THE PEOPLE WITH THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE Mr Caiphus Ernest Khumalo National Department of Environmental Affairs, Directorate: Protected Areas Governance National Biodiversity Stewardship Conference September 2017, Salt Rock Hotel, KZN

2 Establishment of PAs in the World Establishment of the 1 st PAs in the world was from western civilization, mainly for the enjoyment of the elite; Evictions and restrictions on natural resources utilization in PA Subsequently PAs increased exponentially around the globe Unfortunately many PAs have been established following similar conventional and exclusionary approach applied at Yellowstone As such many PAs failed to consider important factors such as social, cultural and economic issues for the benefit of the people neighbouring these PAs

3 History of the Establishment of PAs in the Republic of South Africa No biodiversity strategic planning Protect animals and scenic views for the use and enjoyment of selected few Forceful relocation of communities from areas identified for conservation Fenced for animal protection and distinct delineation of wildlife and communities Exclusive declarations for private land owners

4 PROBLEM!!!!! Pre-1994 (apartheid regime) Indigenous communities owned no PAs Animosity and hatred arose between communities & park management / sector No benefits from PA for indigenous / local communities except cheap labour Lack of buy-in by communities on matters of PA management.

5 Solutions!!! Post Apartheid Regime Highly progress SA Constitution Bill of Rights Development of Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 Land claims (land restoration or financial compensation) Development of National Environment Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 RSA committed to have a platform for community & government engagements on conservation matters Then a VIBRANT People and Parks Programme was established and rolled out

6 CAPE VIDAL 2003 SUBMISSION OF MEMORANDUM (call for involvement of communities in PAs management & P&P programme was borne with community involvement)

7 People and Parks Programme The overall aim of the People and Parks Programme is to address issues at the interface between conservation and communities in particular the realization of tangible benefits by communities who were previously displaced to pave way for PAs establishment

8 People and Parks Programme Coordination Mechanism PARK FORUMS Establish park fora in each PA to deal with park specific issues & serve as a reference group for participation on PAs management activities PROVINCIAL STEERING COMMITTEE Provinces to establish provincial co-ordination structures and integrate the programme activities into their strategic business plans NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE National co-ordination and monitoring through steering committee involving community representatives CEO FORUM Coordination by Chief Executive Officers off management authorities in RSA MINTECH & MINMEC Approval &/or directive by Members of Executive Council & Minister of environment

9 Solutions cont.. Development of comanagement agreements S 42 of the Act, NEM:PAA National Framework detailing the involvement of communities Agreement with the land owners to comanage PAs with management authorities Definitions of PA benefits to communities Identification of community opportunities within PAs Conservation capacity-building & community involvement etc..

10 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CO-MANAGEMENT There are 23 principles in the framework, which to large extent can be grouped into 6 different categories below: i. Emphasis on the significance of PAs and the management thereof; ii. iii. iv. Importance of people s rights and creation of enabling environment for encouraging the reconciliation with conservation; Define what co-management is about, including tangible and intangible benefits of co-management agreement; Role clarification and emphasis of building capacity, relationships and trust; v. Importance of indigenous knowledge and scientific knowledge in terms of its contribution to the success of the co-management arrangement; vi. Development of mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation as an integral part of the co-management to measure progress in implementation & impact.

11 So. Co-management is like a marriage where partners share roles and responsibilities; Co-management should be beneficial for all partners involved if not, it will not be sustainable (win-win situation); Co-management can only work if it is viable option (investigate); Co-management must be given time to grow and cannot be developed in a hurry.

12 CO-MANAGEMENT MODELS There are three categories of co-management; namely: Full co-management Joint decision making and sharing of costs, benefits, risks upon an agreed ratio Lease Compensation for land owners to use are for conservation. Government take decisions. consultation on management of the resource(access, naming etc.) Part co-management / Part Lease Compensation(lease) and consultation for land under conservation and co-management for tourism developments

13 THE TABLE BELOW DEMONSTRATES WHICH TYPE OF BENEFIT APPLIES TO THE THREE BROAD CATEGORIES OF CO-MANAGEMENT

14 Table cont

15 Pro s and Con s (1)

16 Pro s and Con s (2)

17 PRO S AND CON S (3)

18 Highlights on Progress which Involved Communities!!! Access and benefit sharing guidelines MoA on settling land claims Cultural heritage survey & assessment Guidelines for PAs Prioritised land claims settlement National comanagement framework Lottery funding mobilised EPIP funding geared towards P&PP P&PP toolkit manual Operation Phakisa Land Claim settlements & comanagement agreements 7 national conferences Youth in Conservation Forum Provincial structures National steering committee National community task team CITES Global Community Forum

19 Mr Caiphus Ernest Khumalo Director: Protected Areas Governance Department of Environmental Affairs Acadia, Pretoria /