Feasibility Study of Proposed Tourism Dev in Shewula, NE ...

Although the reserve is relatively small (between 2 000 - 3 000 ha), it is contiguous
with other protected areas (including Mbuluzi Game Reserve, Mlawula Nature
Reserve, and further afield, the Hlane Royal National Park). It is also adjacent to
areas of natural vegetation in Mozambique.
2.4. INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT AND RELATED INITIATIVES
This section focuses on the various initiatives and institutions that set the framework
within which this proposed tourism development will take place. These include:
• Protected areas and specifically the properties / role-payers in the Lubombo
Conservancy;
• Government departments, ministries and initiatives in Swaziland and
neighbouring countries;
• Non-governmental organisations and agencies; and
• The Shewula community's institutions and initiatives.
2.4.1. Protected Areas
A country's prime areas of natural and cultural interest are often assigned protected
area status at national and sometimes international level.
A protected area is defined as 'an area dedicated primarily to the protection and
enjoyment of natural and cultural heritage, to maintenance of biodiversity, and/or to
maintenance of ecological life-support services'. 40 The creation of such an area is a
means of conserving a natural ecosystem and/or cultural heritage for a broad range
of human values. However, some areas do not have legal protection status, but are
nevertheless under some form of conservation management.
In practice most countries find it advantageous to have several categories of
protected area, covering a range of management objectives and levels of use and
manipulation. 41 There is even the case where there may be different use zones
within a protected area, such as the wilderness areas in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park,
KwaZulu Natal.
The IUCN has defined various management categories, according to management
objectives. The categories provide the basis for incorporating conservation into
development, and vice versa, with each category having a role to play in meeting the
objectives of conservation and socio-economic development. 42
Current legislation in Swaziland does not recognise different levels of protection,
differentiated on the basis of conservation protection and resource use. Creating
conservation management zones outside of proclaimed areas is needed if a more
representative proportion of Swaziland's area is to be conserved. A possible solution
would be for the Nature Conservation authority to recognise levels of conservation
protection along the lines of the IUCN Conservation categories. 43
40
Ceballos-Lascarain, H. 1996. op cit,. p. 29.
4
' Ibid.
42
Ibid.
43
Masson, P. 1996, op cit.