Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, today concluded the four day People and Parks conference held at the University of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal.
The 4th People and Parks conference was convened under the overarching theme “Conservation for the people with the people.”
Delivering the closing address, Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi said the pace of implementing the programme remains "painstakingly slow and frustrating".
"After three people and parks conferences (before this one) communities have in general very little to show. This situation is both unacceptable and requires urgent remedies.As a department we accept the challenge to act now in order to avert a looming crisis in the future. The stakes are high. The development and even the future of many communities lie in our action. Now is the time to act," Mabudafhasi said.
On behalf of the Department of Environmental Affairs Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi committed to:
1. Work towards the promotion of healthy and sound relations amongst all the parties to the People and Parks programme as in communities, the government and the agencies and individual parks.
2. The mobilisation of resources (including financial) to help unlock the many blockage that has frustrated the best efforts amongst the parties.
3. To build a strong and People and Parks structures (for coordination and implementation purposes) at all levels to ensure the meaningful engagement and participation of parties in all activities based on the principles of cooperative governance and respect for each other’s role.
4. To further explore the model of community support that was presented by Mpumalanga during the conference as a best practice for community support and engage all other provinces with a view to sharing their best practices and adopting broad guidelines for supporting communities. Once adopted, the National Department of Environmental Affairs will be charged with the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of the guidelines
5. To build on the successes of the Kids in Parks programme and mainstream it within the broader people and parks programme.
6. To undertake nationwide visibility studies within the protected areas sector.
7. To use Resource Africa’s theatre team as ambassadors of the People and Parks brand and for the purpose of popularising it within parks communities and nationally.
8. To convene a national People and Parks Coordinating Forum constituted by the National Department of Environmental Affairs, the Community Representatives Executive Committee, Provincial Departments and Agencies.
During the conference best practice models on the implementation of the programme were showcased. About 600 delegates from communities, government, NGOs and academics attended the conference.
For media enquiries contact:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
E-mail: AModise@environment.gov.za
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197
E-mail: mbelengwap@dwa.gov.za
