2005/2006 - SANParks

2005South African National ParksGRASSLAND/NORTHERN CLUSTERThe Working for Water alien vegetation clearing project had a late start thisyear, but a catch-up plan was put in place, namely the employment of nineadditional workers to accelerate progress. A team of 30 workers that wasalso been sourced from Clarens to assist for a period of two months.More hectares than targeted have been cleared with a total of 1 170ha. RandWater is not working on alien vegetation clearing in the park anymore.The Working on Wetlands rehabilitation programme picked up very well aftera late start when an additional nine workers were sourced to accelerateprogress. A total of 353m 3 was completed.The Working on Fire fi refi ghters are based in the GGHNP. They consistof two teams of ten well-trained fi refi ghters, each with a team leader. Nouncontrolled burning took place during the period under review.The vulture conservation programe in the park, which forms part of theinternational vulture conservation programe in Southern Africa, is ongoing,with regular feeding taking place at the so-called vulture restaurant accordingto a feeding plan. The process to construct a hide at the vulture restaurantis progressing well and the EIA scoping report has been fi nalised andsubmitted to DEAT. A Record of Decision to continue with constructionhas been received.PUBLIC RELATIONSThe GGHNP formed part of the exhibition of the Free State HonoraryRangers at the Bloemfontein Show during the last week of April 2005.Red Pepper Pictures and the team of Sho’t Left visited Golden Gate onthe 18 and 19 April 2005 during which they also fi lmed material for theprogramme that formed part of the 13 June 2005 broadcast.T-Man Productions visited the park on the 22 April 2005 in order tocompile a marketing video, by interviewing stakeholders in the EasternFree State, for a presentation to the Local Organising Committee of theSoccer World Cup 2010.The very popular DUB from the Tube Programme on SABC 2 visited theKids in Parks programme. Footage of this visit was screened on variousoccasions of this television programme.A Tourism Month launch was conducted in the park on the 27 August2005 which a large group of media participants attended.The GGHNP made up a large part of a 50/50 programme that wasrecorded in and around the Clarens area and the park. This programmewas broadcast on 25 September 2005.80