iSimangaliso wetland park authority,south africa

Finalist, Destination Stewardship Award

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority was established in 2000 through the World Heritage Convention Act. iSimangaliso is situated in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and is South Africa's first World Heritage Site. It boasts the largest protected area of recorded and potential Stone Age and Iron Age sites in South Africa and is located in one of the most deprived areas of the country. In response to the poor socio-economic conditions of the area, the Authority was given a specific mandate by national government to not only facilitate the protection and conservation of the natural World Heritage Site, but also to optimise sustainable poverty reduction and economic empowerment of communities living in and adjacent to the Park through tourism and related development.

iSimangaliso follows its mandate by establishing equity partnerships between land claimant groups, communities and industry partners operating in the Park. Furthermore, it engages 20 local community-based entrepreneurs through its entrepreneurship programme. The Authority has also to date commissioned 300 women crafters to produce local handicraft for sale as well as 50 artists. Other initiatives include the establishment of a Higher Education Bursary for local students studying conservation and tourism studies, the creation of 39 food gardens and the contracting of over 1500 jobs to local people in community based SMEs.

Ending the paradox of poverty amongst natural plenty plays an important role in the Authority's work. The Park provides a linkage between nature conservation and economic development for adjacent communities. It has introduced a new ideology of people being part of the environment and not separate from it and that successful conservation relies on inclusivity. This approach becomes evident in the Authority's participation in the People and Parks Forum convened by the Department of Environmental Affairs.