WWF Grasslands National Park Brochure

ESTABLISHMENT OF A GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK AN EASTERN CAPE PROJECT FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK PROJECT FOCUSES ON WORKING WITH PRIVATE AND COMMUNAL LANDOWNERS IN WHAT WILL REMAIN A WORKING AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE. Map of priority areas for the establishment of a national park in the Grassland Biome in the north Eastern Cape Province

South African National Parks (SANParks), in partnership with WWF-SA together with a range of committed and passionate government and non-government partners, is undertaking the establishment of a new national park in the Grassland Biome, in the north Eastern Cape Province (see Map). This involves an innovative approach, which focuses on working with private and communal landowners in what will remain a working agricultural landscape.

Towns Roads

Initial stages

Stage 1 - Short term core area around Rhodes and Naude’s Nek Stage 2a - Medium term expansion southwards Stage 2b - Medium term expansion to Ongeluksnek Stage 3 - Longer term expansion potential to Lady Grey Strategic Water Source Areas - Surface Water Existing Protected Areas

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HOW CAN YOU BECOME INVOLVED? As a landowner, you can contribute to the conservation of an area of immensely important biodiversity. The Grassland Biome and many of the country’s Strategic Water Source Areas are inadequately protected and under pressure. Much of the land that has important biodiversity is not formally protected but is in private or communal hands. This is where you can play an important role.

SANParks and its partners’ intention is to establish partnerships with landowners to support the continued management and protection of the natural assets that are in their care. This will be achieved through the declaration of private and communal land, as part of the national park, and through the provision of benefits to landowners who commit to the conservation of their land.

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A written agreement is concluded between a landowner and SANParks recording the landowner’s consent. A Management Agreement is entered into between SANParks and the landowner setting out their respective roles.

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The relevant property is declaraed as part of the national park. SANParks become the managing authority of the property.

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The Written Agreement is notarised and registered against the title deeds of the property.

The Management Agreement enters into force.

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES BIODIVERSITY PRIORITY AREAS The establishment of the national park is focused on high priority biodiversity areas. Before a landowner’s land can be included in the national park, an assessment must be done of the biodiversity on their land.

VOLUNTARY COMMITMENT A LANDOWNER CAN ESTABLISH LEGAL PROTECTION FOR THE BIODIVERSITY THAT HAS EXISTED ON THE LAND OVER THE YEARS...

The declaration of the national park on private and communal land is voluntary, involving willing landowners and SANParks.

The landowners retain ownership and the rights to their land and SANParks and its partners will work with the landowners to protect the biodiversity on the land.

PARTNERSHIPS The establishment of the national park will involve cooperation between different partners, including the landowners and SANParks with the support of NGOs and other programmes funded by government and the private sector.

BENEFITS The long-term viability of the national park relies on the ability of private and communal land to continue to generate economic returns and benefits for its landowners and land rights holders. This requires that existing land-uses that are compatible with biodiversity conservation be retained and that new opportunities to ensure meaningful benefits to landowners be explored.

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HOW CAN I BENEFIT? A number of benefits have been established for landowners who wish to have their land declared as part of the national park. These include benefits provided in terms of the Income Tax Act (see https://www.wildernessfoundation. co.za/projects/innovative-finance for more information) and the Property Rates Act, through funded NGO programmes and efforts to provide innovative conservation finance to landowners and through professional extension support and ecological advice.

Most importantly though, a landowner can establish legal protection for the biodiversity that has existed on the land over the years and create a legacy that ensures the natural, historic and cultural heritage of the landscape is protected for current and future generations.

In the case of communal land, where commercial enterprises are viable, communities will receive assistance in developing feasibility assessments, receiving training and the establishment of partnerships with potential funders.

It is SANParks’ and its partners’ intention to determine ways to provide jobs and income to the community, which can be created through land restoration efforts and through viable commercial activities such as sustainable livestock agriculture.

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HOW IS MY LAND DECLARED AS PART OF THE NATIONAL PARK? THE PROCESS TO INCLUDE LAND IN THE NATIONAL PARK IS VOLUNTARY AND IS NEGOTIATED INDIVIDUALLY WITH EACH LANDOWNER.

The process to include land in the national park is voluntary and is negotiated individually with each landowner. The negotiation process is captured through the preparation of an operational management plan for each property that is to be included in the national park.

This sets out the commitments of the landowner, SANParks and its partners in ensuring the protection of the property’s biodiversity.

In many instances this will involve formalising long-standing land-use practices that have ensured that biodiversity values have been retained on the land over the years. Two legal agreements are prepared: • A written agreement between SANParks and the landowner, which records the landowner’s consent to have their property included in the national park, the terms of which are endorsed on the title deeds of the property.

• A management agreement, which refers to the management plan and the commitments the parties have made towards the protection of biodiversity on the land.

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FAQ’S

Q: If I sell my property, will the restrictions stipulated in the management plan and management agreement apply to the new owner?

A: Yes, the same restrictions will apply.

Q: Will I have to remove existing infrastructure if my property becomes part of the national park?

A: No, existing infrastructure may remain.

Q: Will I be able to further develop my property once it has been declared as part of the national park?

A: Yes, if such development does not undermine the purpose for which the property was declared and is undertaken in accordance with the management plan.

Q: Will SANParks have unlimited access to my property if it becomes part of the national park?

A: No. Any access will be negotiated as part of the agreement.

Q: Will the public have unlimited access to my property if it becomes part of the national park?

A: No, you as the landowner determine if access will be provided or not and the specific rules under which public access may be provided.

Q: What wildlife are to be re-introduced into the region establishing the national park?

A: It is not anticipated that wildlife will be extensively re-introduced, especially predators. The national park is intended to remain a working landscape with a focus on protecting grassland biodiversity and water resources It is not anticipated to be an extensive wildlife area.

Q: Can I declare a portion of my property as part of the national park?

A: Yes, the declaration process allows for an entire cadastre or a portion of a cadastre to be declared as a protected area.

Q: Who will bear the legal and other costs for drawing up the agreements?

A: The costs will be borne by SANParks and its partners.

Q: Can I graze livestock if my property is declared as part of the national park?

A: Yes you may, if the grazing practices are compatible with biodiversity conservation and as long as the conditions of such grazing are addressed and agreed upon in the management plan and management agreement.

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CONTACT US: THEMBANANI NSIBANDE (WWF-SA) TEL: 084 453 9906 EMAIL: TNSIBANDE@WWF.ORG.ZA

ADDITIONAL PARTNERS: • Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform • Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency • Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism • Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform • Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

PARTNERS

• Joe Gqabi District Municipality • Joe Gqabi Economic Development Agency • Senqu Local Municipality • Elundini Local Municipality • Conservation Outcomes • Conservation South Africa • Wilderness Foundation Africa

Images: Greg Martindale and Angus Burns.

• Ford Wildlife Foundation • Trellis Charitable Trust