UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP) BIODIVERSITY PLANNING SUPPORT PROGRAMME (BPSP) Integrating Biodiversity into the Tourism Sector: Best Practice and Country Case Studies Case study of South Africa Anna Spenceley Institute of Natural Resources Private Bag X01 Scottsville Pietermaritzburg 3209 South Africa Tel: +27 33 3460796 Mobile: +27 82 3604475 Fax: + 27 33 3460895
[email protected] or
[email protected] Final Report: February 2001 Acknowledgements This case study was made possible with the expertise and support of a number of people. At the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism I would like to thank Moeketsi Mosola and Khungeka Njobe for their assistance. Within South African National Parks information was gratefully received from Dirk Fourie, Chris Patton and Annatjie Pelser. Advice was also provided by Dr Maureen Wolfson of the National Botanical Institute; Vuyo Mahlati of the Community Public Private Partnership (CPPP); Clive Poultney of the Tourism and Hospitality Education and Training Authority (THETA); James Seymour of KwaZulu Natal Tourism Authority; and Penny Urquhart of Khanya-managing rural change cc. Thanks also to Trevor Sandwith, Brent Corcoran, and Cecelia Sibeko from the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service (KZNNCS) for their assistance, and to both Justin Pooley and Margaret McKenzie at the Institute of Natural Resources. Background to the Case Study The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Biodiversity Planning Support Programme (BPSP) has a mandate to provide assistance to national biodiversity planners as they develop and implement their national biodiversity strategy and action plans, or equivalent plans, programmes and policies. The integration of biodiversity into other sectors of the national economy and civil society has been identified as a critical indicator of successful implementation of sustainable development practices and objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).