Kruger National Park Stakeholder Participation Report
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The Kruger National Park T PLAN N MANAGEME – PARK NATIONAL Stakeholder participation KRUGER report 2018 1 Table of contents No. Index Page Prelude 4 Executive summary 5 1 Introduction 6 2 Stakeholder participation strategy 6 2.1 Stakeholder engagement objectives 6 2.2 Approach 6 3 Stakeholder engagement process 7 4 Stakeholder identification, registration and meetings 8 4.1 Media platforms used to invite stakeholders to register and participate 10 4.2 Documentation dissemination 12 4.3 Public information sessions on Draft Management Plan 13 5 Stakeholder comments / inputs 30 Figures Description Page 1 The KNP Management Plan review process, as was presented to 7 stakeholders. 2 The role of the desired state process within the broader context of the 13 relationship between SANParks and public interests. 3 Public meetings were held in 11 localities within the immediate KNP 14 vicinity for both the “desired state” and draft Management Plan presentations and 4 in main metros (not shown). 4 The adaptive planning process as presented at meetings, leading to the 15 articulation of the desired state. The vision is informed by the operating principles and values, the context within which the Park is nested, and its vital attributes. Together, these form the basis for the articulation of high level objectives for the Park. 5 Summary of the key issues identified during the desired state 15 workshops, clustered into key themes and high-level objectives. 6 Graph of the key issues identified (more than 25 mentions) during the 16 Desired state workshops. 7 Graph of the issues identified (less than 25 mentions) during the Desired 20 state workshops. 8 Graph of the issues identified during the public meeting workshops. 26 9 Word cloud of main themes and related issues, as discussed during the 176 Staff information sessions, desired state phase (2017). 10 Word cloud of the Vital attributes, as discussed during the Staff 177 information sessions, Desired State phase (2017). Tables Description Page 1 The various organisations that were identified to participate in the Park 9 management plan process. The government departments are at national, provincial and local level. The intention is to illustrate SANParks’ commitment in terms of the spirit of co-operative governance. 2 The various media platforms used to inform stakeholders of the revision 11 of desired state public meetings (2017) and the draft KNP Management Plan presentation (2018). 2 Tables Description Page 3 Public venues where members of the public could view the draft Park 12 Management Plan. 4 Desired state workshops attendance. 13 5 A brief description of the issues raised during the Desired state 16 workshops, for issues mentioned more than 25 times. 6 A brief description of the issues raised during the Desired state 21 workshops, for issues mentioned less than 25 times. 7 A summary of the focus/interest group meetings where inputs into the 24 draft Management Plan were received/presented throughout the review process. 8 A broad summary of inputs received on the KNP draft Management Plan, 25 categorised according to broad themes, very often overlapping between the respective KNP Management Plan sections/themes. 483 inputs were received (public meetings and written inputs). 9 A broad summary of inputs received on the KNP draft Management Plan, 27 categorised according to broad themes, very often overlapping between the respective KNP Management Plan sections/themes. 483 inputs were received (public meetings and written inputs). 10 Register of inputs received during the draft KNP Management Plan public 30 T PLAN meetings (February 2018), showing comments per relevant KNP N Management Plan section. MANAGEME An Acronymn list is caputed in the KNP Management Plan – PARK NATIONAL KRUGER 3 Prelude This report is the accompanying stakeholder participation report to the revised Park management plan of the Kruger National Park (KNP). The report includes the comments received from stakeholders during the “Desired State” public participation phase (April – May 2017), and on the draft Park management plan released for public comment on 30 January 2018. This report is submitted with the revised KNP Management Plan to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) for technical review. 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In compliance with National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act No. 57 of 2003) (NEM: PAA), SANParks has initiated a process to revise the KNP Management Plan. The management plan was formulated over a period of 12 months following extensive consultation through 54 public and focus group meetings with the public and with interested groups. The management plan will guide the Park’s strategic direction and operations in relation to broader regional land use for the next ten years. The management plan has been aligned with national and international legislation and agreements. The plan furthermore seeks alignment with the National Development Plan and the Ministerial Delivery Outcomes. A total of 3,465 stakeholders participated in the desired state meeting (2017), which provided the strategic direction for the KNP for the next 10 years. A total of 2,297 stakeholders attended the second round of public meetings (2018), during which the draft management plan was presented. 483 inputs were received during the meetings and in written format. Issues raised by the public during development of the plan include, but are not limited to, job creation, business partnerships, opportunities to participate in the wildlife economy and tourism, better communication and feedback, the state of basic services, crime and its impact, damage-causing T PLAN animals, increased community access to the Park, increased environmental education and awareness N programmes, opportunities for inclusion, partnerships with Mozambique and Zimbabwe, concerns about the impact of commercial developments on wilderness areas, and clarification on resource use The KNP Management Plan will be guided by eight high-level objectives and operationalised through 30 implementation plans. The plan will focus on various programmes such as regional integration with MANAGEME other sectors and land uses, socio-economic development such as the Land Claimant and Wildlife – Economy Programmes, Tourism, Cultural Heritage, Stakeholder Engagement, Wilderness, and Effective Park Management. The latter will focus on financial sustainability, safety and security, human wildlife conflict management, human capital management and research programmes. PARK The Park recognises that a holistic approach is required to ensure strategic alignment, sustainability and transformation of the conservation sector, in line with the SANParks Vision: “A sustainable National Park System connecting society”. Implementation will therefore require a multi-institutional and NATIONAL sectoral approach that engenders co-operation and collaboration with a range of sectors, communities and strategic partners within the fields of environmental management, rural development and livelihoods, food security and land reform, local government and human settlements, safety and security, education and health, spatial planning and infrastructure development. KRUGER 5 Introduction 1. Background Section 39(3) of NEM: PAA stipulates that all persons who may be interested or affected by a management plan for a protected area be given the opportunity to participate in, or comment on the plan. Section 41(2e) of NEM: PAA states that a management plan for a protected area must contain at least procedures for public participation, including participation by the owner (if applicable), any local community or other interested party. The stakeholder engagement strategy was developed in line with the requirements of SANParks guidelines for stakeholder engagement and Chapter 5 of the National Environmental Management Act No. 107 of 1998 (NEMA). SANParks follows the adaptive planning process that involves stakeholder participation as an integral part of the revision of the management plan for any National Park. The commitment to the incorporation of public opinion into park management is rooted in the recognition that (a) parks must serve a conservation-oriented subset of societal values and that (b) parks are inevitably situated within a broader landscape and context, which it influences and is influenced by. The parks’ management activities are therefore geared towards promoting conservation values (and society’s connection with those values) and promoting this goal, in part, by engaging the broader context in which the park is situated. The adaptive planning process that was followed was designed to (a) help stakeholders express opinions and values in a structured way, (b) to use the opinions and expressed values to revise the existing mission for KNP, and (c) to translate the mission into management objectives and implementation plans that reflect the values as expressed by stakeholders. This report is submitted as a record of the formal comments received from stakeholders on the draft KNP Management Plan. This includes a summary of the ‘desired state’ public meetings’ feedback, summary of focus group meetings’ feedback, the draft management plan public meetings’ responses, and written responses received. 2. Stakeholder participation strategy 2.1 Stakeholder engagement objectives The objectives of the stakeholder participation process are to: Create a channel for the accurate and timely dissemination of information to interested and affected stakeholders; Create the opportunity for