Conservation is Catching on!Richard Knight in collaboration with Cape Nature Conservation Board and South African National Parks

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What is conservation?.

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A traditional view was an area put aside for the preservation of organisms and their environment!

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This has lead to conflicts between local communities and park boundaries

Photo South African National Parks

“National Parks have not drawn us into a more thoughtful relationship with our habitat. They have not taught us that land is to be used frugally and with good sense. They have encouraged us to believe that conservation is merely a system of trading environmental write-offs against large protected areas. They have more than failed, in fact they have become a symptom of the problem” (Van Tighem 1986)

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Fencing and Park Boundaries have become major social and political issues.

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The solution is to involve local communities and manage protected areas as another type of landuse.

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Critical to Park Management is to establish objectives

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A classification of protected areas exists from the IUCN

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Preserve habitats, ecosystems and species in as undisturbed state as possible

Ia: The Strict Nature Reserve/Wilderness areas

Objective: Dassen Island and the Prince Edward Islands

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A classification of protected areas exists from the IUCN

II: National Park

Objective: Protect for scientific, educational, recreationalor tourist purposesWest Coast National Park

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A classification of protected areas exists from the IUCN

III: Natural Monument: Protected Area

Objective: Based on a specific natural/cultural or uniquerepresentational significanceKirstenbosch and Tienie Versveld

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A classification of protected areas exists from the IUCN

IV: Habitat/Species Management Area

Objective:

Maintain a habitat for protection of significant species/ group of species or special physical featuresMaanschynkop

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A classification of protected areas exists from the IUCN

V: Protected Landscape/Seascape

Objective: Protect harmonious interaction of nature andcultureNo South African examples - look at Fishing Communities

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A classification of protected areas exists from the IUCN

IX: Biosphere Reserve

Objective: Integrate protected areas within a landscapeof other economic activities

Transitional

Buffer

Core

Kogelberg & Proposed West Coast

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A classification of protected areas exists from the IUCN

X: World Heritage Site

Objective: Protect for scientific, educational, recreationalor tourist purposesRobben Island & proposed for Table Mountain

www.robben.island.org.za

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Other protected areas

Peace Parks- a Transfrontier conservation area

Objective: Promote regional co-operation, job creationand biodiversity conservationRecently Proclaimed Kalahari Park

South African National Parks

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Contractual Parks

A protected area that is co-operatively managed by Local Communities and a State Organization

Objective: Protect natural resources and preservecultural lifestyles of indigenous peopleRichtersveld National Park

South African National Parks - Nigel Dennis

World Heritage Sites

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How well are we Conserving?

South Africa's World Heritage Sites: World Heritage Sites recognise and protect areas of outstanding natural, historical and cultural value. Given South Africa's diverse culture and history and her spectacular natural resources and wildlife, it is not surprising that she boasts 7 World Heritage Sites.

Cultural » Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs (1999)» Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (2003) » Robben Island (1999) Mixed » UKhahlamba / Drakensberg Park (2000) Natural» Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (2004) » Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park (1999) » Vredefort Dome (2005)

World Heritage Sites South Africa

Proposed Peace Parks

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Richtersveld/Ai-Ais

Gariep

Kgalagadi (Kalahari)

Limpopo/Shashe

Kruger/Banhine-ZinaveGonarezhou

Maputaland

Maloti/Drakensberg

South African National Parks

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Conserved Areas in the Western Cape

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Conserved Areas in Hermanus

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Fernkloof

Cliff paths

Vogelgat

Maanschynkop

WalkerBay

Just a final tour of Fernkloof

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