2005/2006 - SANParks

2006South African National Parks• State of biodiversity management reporting system. Themethodology for annual assessment of the state of the biodiversityand cultural heritage management system in national parks iscomplete and ready for implementation.• Reintroduction of indigenous wildlife species in Table MountainNP (TMNP). Eleven klipspringers, provided by Cape Nature fromthe Waterval Nature Reserve near Tulbagh, were translocated toTMNP as part of re-establishing klipspringers on Table Mountain,which was made possible by the removal of the alien Himalayantahrs.• Disease management and research in Kruger National Park(KNP). Another case of advanced Bovine TB was found in abuffalo in the far north of the KNP. Also of concern is that insome sections of the western boundary of the KNP buffalo arefrequently moving out of the park and cattle are also enteringthe park, largely as a result of elephant-caused fence breaks.Mixing between rural livestock and buffalo poses serious diseaserisks.• State of Kruger National Park Rivers. During October 2005 theOlifants and the Letaba Rivers stopped fl owing. High concentrationof hippo in the deeper pools of the Letaba river resulted in severeeutrophic conditions of the water and in the killing of most of thefi sh species and other river biota. SANParks has engaged withthe Department of Water Affairs to ensure adequate release ofwater from upriver dams during dry periods. These rivers startedfl owing again as a result of good rains in November 2005.LAND ACQUISITIONSANParks with assistance from DEAT, donors and its own resourceshas provided funds for the expansion and consolidation of our nationalparks. This has been primarily aimed at enhancing the conservation ofour under-conserved biodiversity, towards the creation of ecologicallysustainable national parks and providing the catalyst to enhance botheconomic and social opportunities. This is in line with sustainabledevelopment ideals.Land available for purchase often far exceeds available funds and,accordingly, purchases were split to avoid forfeiting the opportunityto acquire land. Hence, while in 2005/06 SANParks spent a total ofR58 million on land acquisition, only 27,329 hectares were acquiredin 12 new properties for R48.3 million.The balance of R9.7 million was carried over from the previousfi nancial year, 2004/05. Of the R48.3 million, some R41.3 million wasaccounted for using DEAT land grant sources and the balance fromdonor contributions. However, R25.7 million from DEAT grant wasused to repay the Industrial Development Corporation loan as partof acquiring land for the Addo Elephant National Park in early 2000.The bulk of the land acquired was in under-conserved biomes:about 22 hectares for Fynbos; 18,380 hectares for Succulent Karoo;8,885 hectares for Nama-Karoo; and 40 hectares for Savanna. Detailsof specifi c national parks expanded included:1. Agulhas: The inclusion of untransformed lowland Fynbos nearCape Agulhas, potentially under threat of development.2. Karoo: The inclusion of the single most important propertythat had effectively divided the western plains into two diffi cultmanagement sections. This will allow SANParks to now use thegreater area of the park.3. Tankwa-Karoo: Two properties were purchased, extending5590 hectares to consolidate the park and its holdings in theRoggeveld foothills. This is all moving towards the greater planof further expanding into the biologically important RoggeveldMountains.4. Namaqua: Through the help of Conservation International, thepark has further consolidated the important wilderness corridoras part of the plan to link the current mountains sections andplanned coastal contractual park to create a mountains-to-seaconservation area.5. Marakele: The acquisition of isolated private land that wastotally surrounded by SANParks in order to form a contiguousmanagement unit.TRANSFRONTIER CONSERVATION AREASGood progress was made in the further implementation of thetransfrontier conservation areas (TFCA) projects in South Africa during2005. SANParks is the sole South African implementing agent forfour of these areas, namely the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, the|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Conservation Park, the KgalagadiTransfrontier Park, and the proposed Limpopo/Shashe TransfrontierConservation Area. In addition to these, SANParks is also closelyinvolved through the Greater Golden Gate National Park as one ofthe four South African implementing agents in the establishment ofthe Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Project.In developing TFCAs, SANParks works closely with DEAT, whichis the lead national department for the development of TFCAs inSouth Africa. The Department plays a critical role in maintaining themomentum needed for the successful planning, development andimplementation of transfrontier projects.Support from other partners and role players including governmentdepartments, relevant governments and implementing agencies of partnercountries, the private sector, donors and NGOs such as the PeaceParks Foundation, are greatly acknowledged and appreciated.11