IMP on CONCESSIONS: Revenue from popular activities like private launch boat tours supports the Authority’s management goals
IMP on Empowerment. Members of local communities are top of the list for jobs and contracts in park development projects
IMP on RESOURCES: Local communities are allowed controlled harvesting like ilala palm sap used for palm wine
Uhlelo OLUDIDIYELWE LOKUPHATHWA KWE-PAKI (IMP):
I-Paki ibophezelekile ukuba ibe nohlelo oludidiyelwe lokuphathwa (IMP)
oluqukethe imitheshwana elawula abaphathi nabavakashi. Njengokuthi umuntu
uvunyelwe ukudoba kuphi, ukukha umhlanga kuphi, ukwakha kanjalo nokubhukuda
kuphi. Izithombe zikhombisa izinto ezingenziwa ezahlukene ezilawulwa yiloluhlelo
lokuphatha oludidiyelwe (IMP).
“THE IMP ‘RULE BOOK’ FOR THE PARK
Dianne Scott
Every decision made in the Park has to abide by a set of ‘rules’
to protect and manage the natural and cultural heritage, recognised internationally
by its listing as a World Heritage Site.
The South African government has a responsibility to protect this under
the World Heritage Convention Act (WHCA). Regulations in terms of this Act
proclaimed the park (joining 16 parcels of land together) and established
a special Authority tasked with its management. The Act also states that
an ‘Integrated Management Plan’ be put in place.
A first draft of this ‘rule book’ exists and went through a
public process in 2002. This has been used as a basis for decision-making
and is accepted by government as a framework until the final IMP is signed
off by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism – by mid-year
following an extensive process of public participation.
Some important facts about the IMP:
- It sets up a framework of principles, goals, management objectives
- It is an integrated plan – social, economic and environmental goals are considered in every decision
- It is cutting edge in SA – the first park ‘rule book’ to be tailored to include development and distribute ‘benefits beyond boundaries’
- Once approved it provides a five-year plan
- It consists of a range of management ‘tools’: spatial including zonation, activities and nodal frameworks. Who can do what, where and how
- Most of the ‘tools’ will be ‘subordinate documents’ framed by the IMP, e.g. the Coelacanth Management Plan, buffer zone policy and research policy
- At the recent World Parks Congress the s Park was proposed as a global
model of protected area management as it attempts to balance conservation
and development, the pillars of sustainable development .