the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape World Heritage Site Nomination 103 management of the land for their perpetuation, it was felt by both heritage and environmental specialists involved with the community that the best option would be one that as far as possible perpetuated traditional protections and allowed the community as large a role in management of the site as the legal system would permit. It was, however, clear that in order to obtain both national and international protection of the site some form of firm and enforceable legal protection was required. In order to ensure that a system of regulation was acceptable to the community, an undertaking was given to it by provincial authorities that prior to the formal implementation of any regulatory and management framework the system would be applied, tested and refined and not gazetted until such time as the community was satisfied that it met its needs, did not significantly erode its land rights and would serve adequately as a means of protecting the resources it values. Conversely the aforementioned has proven as important to heritage and environmental professionals involved with the site in that it has shown that ‘codified’ traditional protections and a formalised system of management in which the community plays the essential role do work for the site and will ensure its future conservation. In considering which of the many options for formal, legal recognition of the Richtersveld Community Conservancy was best suited to its situation, many possibilities have been considered and it has been resolved to protect the area under the terms of the NHRA and as a Heritage Area. Interaction with the community during a trial period for the management plan and management system as implemented over the past several years has determined that this system is the one most suitable for the site and needs of the community. Section 31 of the NHRA provides for the creation of Heritage Areas and provides options for this to be accomplished by either the municipality or Provincial Heritage Resources Authority. In this case it is considered by both the Province, Municipality and community that the heritage area is best created by Ngao Boshwa Kapa
Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape World Heritage Site Nomination 104 Bokoni and the process of implementation of the relevant provisions Section 31 of the act is currently underway and envisaged for gazetting by mid-2006. Broadly speaking, the Heritage Areas provisions of the NHRA are a dynamic way of providing for protection of an area in that rather than applying a predetermined set of provisions prescribed by legislation, a regulation that meets the specific needs of the site in question must be written and gazetted. The regulation is equivalent to a management plan for the site in that it not only identifies what has to be protected, but how this should take place. Usually it also creates a management authority that allows all the necessary players in the given context to be involved in the decision making processes around the site. The provision is specifically designed for application to sites where there is a close inter-connection of cultural and natural values and resources of the site. (Clause 1 of Section 31 of the NHRA states that the purpose of a Heritage Area is “to protect any area of environmental or cultural interest”.) The envisaged regulation will provide for both the core area of the site and its buffer zone and consists of the conversion of the current management plan into regulations, with greater provision for cultural resources, and the recognition of the current Management Committee. It is envisaged that the Management Committee formally created by the regulation establishing the Heritage Area will, once the site is inscribed on the World Heritage List, be recognised as a Management Authority in terms of South African World Heritage Act. In summary, the establishment as a Heritage Area under NHRA serves three primary roles. First it places the entire area and its biological and cultural assets under full legal protection. Second, it ensures that the local community can continue to own and manage the site and ensure participation and consultation of local people such as the semi-nomadic pastoralists. Third, it ensures a ‘checks and balances’ system by which any development which affects the area must gain consent of both the local owners and the local government. Areas which can be declared Heritage Areas include those which are part of the “National Estate”,
Page 1 and 2:
THE RICHTERSVELD CULTURAL AND BOTAN
Page 3 and 4:
Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical
Page 5 and 6:
Page 7:
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14 and 15:
Page 16 and 17:
Page 18 and 19:
Page 20 and 21:
Page 22 and 23:
Page 24 and 25:
Page 26 and 27:
Page 28 and 29:
Page 30 and 31:
Page 32 and 33:
Page 34 and 35:
Page 36 and 37:
Page 38 and 39:
Page 40 and 41:
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47:
Page 48 and 49:
Page 50 and 51:
Page 52 and 53:
Page 54 and 55: Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical
Page 154 and 155:
Page 156 and 157:
Page 158 and 159:
Page 160 and 161:
Page 162 and 163:
Page 164 and 165:
Page 166 and 167:
show all

the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?