The plan kick-starts the process of expanding Kruger Park’s conservation footprint across international borders, incorporating a wide spectrum of landowners, to create the 10 million-hectare Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) as a world-leading conservation initiative.
A wide-ranging array of stakeholders was consulted through 54 public and focus group meetings in the development of the plan.
Fair Trade Tourism MD Jane Edge praised the management plan’s focus on the economic inclusion of marginalised communities to ensure the long-term sustainability of the greater Kruger Park.
“We urge the tourism sector to rally behind this plan to ensure that the two million people living on the periphery of Kruger Park become constituents for conservation, and not opponents. Game lodges need to create economic linkages with communities through their purchasing decisions, through enterprise and supplier development and by including cultural attractions in their offering. Tour operators should specifically support tourism products that benefit local communities,” she said.
FTT says Kruger Park’s history of land dispossession means that many local communities feel alienated, especially as they see little economic benefit from wildlife areas. “There is a common perception that protected areas are the preserve of rich white people for whom wild animals are more important than people. The tourism industry needs to overturn this perception by ensuring that economic empowerment is directly linked to the value of wildlife,” says Edge.
FTT says the tourism sector should also support the Kruger Park’s community land claimant beneficiation scheme where possible. The scheme provides communities with:
- Preferential job and enterprise development opportunities;
- Game donations;
- Free 10% equity share in new commercial operations;
- 10% contribution of SANParks’ profit from Skukuza Lodge (from year 6).
- R5 million per annum contribution from park activity and accommodation revenues;
- 5% contribution from rhino sales.
“Working together, we can help create a breath taking wildlife tourism destination that benefits all stakeholders and serves as an example to the globe,” says Edge.
“FTT is excited to be playing its part by developing responsible tourism criteria for the Greater Kruger Park Protected Area. We urge the tourism sector to embrace these criteria.”
