MONDAY, 01 NOVEMBER 2006:The
Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism,
Rejoice Mabudafhasi says government has achieved
commendable progress on policy and legislation
aimed at transforming protected areas (land under
conservation), through the People and Parks programme
(P&P). She was speaking at the 2nd People
and Parks workshop held in Beaufort West in the
Western Cape, today.
The two day P&P workshop
is assessing the outcomes of the 2004 workshop,
which included co- management and establishment
of partnerships in the management of protected
areas, access and benefit sharing. The workshop
will also review issues of cooperative governance
when addressing land claims in a protected area,
local government linkages and the government support
post the settlement of land claims.
Participating at the workshop
are representatives from national and provincial
government, conservation agencies and representatives
of communities affected by park activities
The department, through its
public entities is currently working towards firming
up its Public Private Partnerships by piloting
various models of BEE within the environment and
tourism sector. Such initiatives are contributing
towards government’s second economy programmes,
intended to improve the lives of people. They
include working for wetlands, working for water
and people and parks.
Deputy - Minister Mabudafhasi
indicated that the sector needs to capacitate
women and young girls to be actively involved
in the management of protected areas as they have
indepth knowledge of biodiversity. They have been
collecting firewood, medicinal plants and other
natural resources needed for the survival of households.
In so doing, the sector will conform to government’s
policy framework that requires women empowerment
at all levels of management.
In order to promote sustainability
and ownership of projects, the Minister urged
conservation agencies to engage with local government
on initiatives that are aimed at bettering the
lives of communities.
The two-day workshop ends tomorrow
and will map the way forward in the implementation
of the People and Parks programme.
Blessing Manale
