30 Garden Route National Park T PLAN N MANAGEME – Stakeholder NATIONAL PARK NATIONAL participation report GARDEN ROUTE 2019 1 Table of contents No. Index Page Prelude 3 Introduction 4 1 Background 4 2 Stakeholder participation strategy 4 2.1 Stakeholder engagement objectives 4 2.2 Approach 4 3 Stakeholder engagement process 5 4 Stakeholder identification, registration and meetings 5 4.1 Media platforms used to invite stakeholders to register and participate 5 4.2 Documentation dissemination 6 4.3 Public information sessions on Draft Management Plan 6 5 Stakeholder comments / inputs 7 2 Prelude This report is the accompanying stakeholder participation report to the revised park management plan of the Garden Route National Park (GRNP). The report includes the comments received from stakeholders on the draft park management plan released for public comment on 01 July 2019. This report is submitted with the revised park management plan of the GRNP to the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) for technical review. For further information please contact: André Spies Manager: Park Planning T PLAN N Postal address: P.O. Box 787, Pretoria, 0001 Tel: 012 426 5285 Email: [email protected] MANAGEME – NATIONAL PARK NATIONAL GARDEN ROUTE 3 Introduction 1. Background In compliance with National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act No. 57 of 2003)(NEM: PAA), SANParks has initiated a process to revise the GRNP Management Plan. Section 39(3) of NEM: PAA requires 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 contractually included land owners (if applicable), any local community or other interested party. Section 24(d) of the World Heritage Convention Act (Act No. 49 of 1999) also requires public participation. The stakeholder engagement strategy was developed in line with the requirements of the SANParks guidelines for stakeholder engagement and Chapter 5 of the National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998). This report is submitted as a record of the formal comments received from stakeholders on the draft GRNP Management Plan. 2. Stakeholder engagement 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 communication between SANParks and the public; Promote opportunities for the building of understanding between different parties; Provide the opportunity for stakeholders to give meaningful input into the decision-making processes that drive the development of the Park Management Plan. 2.2 Approach The approach to the Stakeholder Participation Process is based on the principles embodied in the following legal framework: The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act No. 108 of 1996); National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA); and The National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act No.57 of 2003) as amended by the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act No.31 of 2004), Act No. 15 of 2009 and Act 21 of 2014. 4 In addition to the above legal framework, the stakeholder process was developed with the Guiding Principles for SANParks Stakeholder Participation in mind. SANParks thus undertakes to: Seek to notify stakeholders of participation processes through appropriate mechanisms. Ensure that the process provides the opportunity for input from all stakeholders within reasonable timeframes, emphasising the sharing of information, joint learning and capacity building. Promote participation by stakeholders through timely and full disclosure of all relevant and appropriate information. Provide feedback on the outcome of the process to stakeholders and demonstrate how their inputs have been considered in the decision-making process. Ensure that methodologies accommodate the context of the issue at hand and the availability of resources (people, time, money) and do not conflict with these guiding principles. Give attention to ensuring participation by marginalised communities, communities with specific concerns, or communities that have contractual rights in the national park. 3. The stakeholder engagement process T PLAN The stakeholder engagement process took the form of a wide-reaching open process, spanning N 16 months, where input and/or comments on the draft sections were collected, considered and responded to. Platforms used to reach organisations and members of the public included direct mail to all previously registered stakeholders on the database of consulted stakeholders during the review of the last GRNP Management plan and a regional stakeholder database. The call for MANAGEME participation in the development of the “desired state” at the start of the review process, as well as the “call for comments” to participate and comment on the draft Park Management Plan were – published in local media and social media posts, supported by news about the workshops on the SANParks website, at local libraries and at community centres. At the six desired state workshops and the 14 external focus group meetings that followed, as well as the six public information sessions, stakeholders were given a chance to directly interact with park management. NATIONAL PARK NATIONAL 4. Stakeholder identification and registration Stakeholders were identified from the park’s stakeholder database as well as the existing stakeholder registers from previous public participation processes. New and existing stakeholders were also able to register throughout the 16-month process at the six desired state workshops, the six public information sessions and on the SANParks Website. In total, 235 members of the public registered as stakeholders during this revision process. GARDEN ROUTE Stakeholder Identification: Table 1. The various organisations that were identified to participate in the Integrated Management Plan process included the following: International Trans Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) partners, UNESCO, African World Heritage Fund National Government The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), the South African National Botanical Institute (SANBI), the Department of Agriculture Forestry & Fisheries (DAFF)- and the South African Police Services (SAPS) Provincial government The Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development Environmental Affairs and Tourism, CapeNature, the Western Cape Department of Water and Sanitation, the Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency, the Western Cape Department of Social Development Local government Eden District Municipality, Bitou Municipality, Knysna Municipality, George Municipality, Koukamma Municipality 5 Local Resident/Neighbours Knoetzie Home Owners, Pezula Golf Estate, MTO (Cape Pine), Pledge Nature Reserve, Knysna Basin Project, Mountain Club of S.A, Southern Cape FPA, Sedgefield Ratepayers and Voters Association, Wilderness Ratepayers Association, Sedgefield Island Conservancy, Wilderness Lakes Sub-Catchment Management Forum, Knysna Catchment Management Forum, Wilderness Lakes Catchment Management Forum, Steenbok Park Nature Reserve, Pledge Nature Reserve, Nature's Valley Trust, Plettenberg Bay Community Environment Forum, Stewardship Working Group, Eden to Addo, Tsitsikamma Conservation Forum, Conservancies: Middle Keurbooms, Indalo, Noetzie, Bibby's Hoek, Gouna, Phantom- Homtini, Redford, Kaaimans, Cola Beach, Western-Heads Goukamma, Sedgefield Island, Paradise Ridge, Touwriver Kaaimans, Crags. Land claimants Covie CPA (Land Claim) Community organisations Khoisan Village Trust, Tsitsikamma Angling Forum, Traditional Healers Knysna, Traditional Healers Plettenberg Bay, House of Judah Rastafarian Community, Traditional Circumcision Knysna, Traditional Circumcision Plettenberg Bay, Rastafarians Plettenberg Bay, Knysna Historical Society, Rotary, Edge of Africa, Knysna Drug and Alcohol Centre, Julia Early Childhood and Aftercare Centre, Wilderness and Lakes Environmental Action Forum (WALEAF) Business associations Tsitsikamma Black Economic Empowerment Forum, Koukamma Business Development Forum, George Business Chamber, Oyster Rights Holder Research Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Cape College, Botanical Society of South Africa Conservation organisations Nature's Valley Trust, Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), Fynbos Forum, Knysna Environmental Forum, Biowise, Knysna Museum, Lakes Bird Club, Garden Route Initiative, SC Weeds Forum, Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers Tourist organisations Thesen Island Blue Flag Committee, World Travellers, Eden Adventures, George Lakes Yacht Club, Lakes Bird Club, Dog Walkers Committee SANParks Honorary South Eastern Cluster (Wilderness, Knysna, Tsitsikamma) Rangers Media platforms used to invite stakeholders to register and participate Table 2. The various media platforms used to inform stakeholders of the revision of the park management plan. Media Description 1. Direct e-mail All the stakeholders that were registered during the 2009 management plan revision were informed about the revision process. (Refer to list of 41 persons). In addition, the region’s stakeholder