the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA

Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape World Heritage Site Nomination 138
Development and the development of websites and other promotional
material (funded by Conservation International).
• Development of a Small Business Strategy for the Richtersveld:
Development of a Small Business Strategy and facilitation of tourism
training development for key personnel in the South-North Tourism Route
Association (SNTRA) and Richtersveld Tourism Association (RTA) in order
to publicize the Richtersveld Community Conservancy and surrounding
areas (funded by GTZ/Transform).
5.j Staffing Levels
The Richtersveld Community Conservancy is a community-owned and managed
protected area. The creation and development of the Conservancy was carried out
with the understanding from the beginning that capacity building of local people and
managers was a constant priority. In an area which only a decade ago was still
being actively and negatively impacted by Apartheid and the restrictions for
economic and skills growth, the Conservancy has progressed successfully, but still
requires training and improvement of the skills base of the community members
involved in the operations and management of the Conservancy.
Significantly the Provincial Department of Arts, Sports and Culture and the
Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation (DTEC) have indicated to
jointly funds a further full-time position for the Conservancy which will boost
sustainability of the staff component.
There have been numerous projects before and since the Conservancy’s inception
which have focused on capacity building and training. The majority of these
initiatives have focused on tourism, management, conservation and environmental
management, financial management and accounting.
The Conservancy Manager and Conservancy Administrative Officer regularly attend
short courses and on-site training to supplement their skills and continually to
improve their ability to operate the Conservancy.