The Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in collaboration with the national Department of Environmental Affairs are presenting the status of the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site to environmental communicators from all over the country on Tuesday, 16 November 2010.
Vredefort Dome was declared the World Heritage Site in December 2002. Since then, there has been consultation between different stakeholders that includes landowners, communities living in the dome, North West government, Free State government and affected municipalities.
In 2008, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) undertook a monitoring evaluation mission. The mission made the following recommendations:
- Improvement in awareness efforts on the relevant legislation
- Improved community involvement
- Municipalities to include Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site in their IDP’s
- A tourism development feasibility study to be undertaken
- Updated database of landownership at the dome
- Review of the Integrated Management Plan
- Improved communication among stakeholders
- Waste disposal to receive attention
- The state of conservation report to be submitted by 9 February 2009.
The purpose of the presentation on Tuesday is to get:
- a historical background leading toWorld Heritage Site status
- socio-economic factors in the dome
- geological significance of the VDWHS
- environmental issues and
- current status
Presentations will be followed by a guided tour with a helicopter fly over of the site.
For more information please contact:
Elsie Ntsane
Tel: 051 400 9550
E-mail: ntsane@detea.fs.gov.za
Lebogang Maloale
Tel: 051 400 9544
E-mail: maloalel@detea.fs.gov.za
Source: Free State Tourism, Economic Development and Environmental Affairs
