KZN Wildlife uplifts communities
12 March 2003
Poor communities living next to game reserves in KwaZulu-Natal will benefit from
R20-million in poverty alleviation projects that promise to employ more than 900 people in the province.
The province’s conservation management agency, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, has been appointed project leader for 18 conservation and ecotourism initiatives that aim to source local people and businesses and train them in the work required.
"By the end of the project they should be empowered enough to continue with ongoing contract work in conservation and related industries," said Ezemvelo project leader Brad Poole.
The money was allocated by the national treasury, through the department of environmental affairs and tourism, and will offer employment to a projected 937 people.
The projects are diverse in nature, but one example is the proposed upgrade of the Hluhluwe game reserve entrance gate and craft centre. Altogether R3.2-million has been
allocated towards upgrading the gate, providing facilities and improving the community craft centre.
"At the moment, the facilities are inadequate for the number of visitors passing through the gate, and this impacts negatively on community activities (craft market, community tour guides) at the gate," Poole said.
"The task here is to improve the infrastructure, the road (which is severely potholed), upgrade the ablutions, provide picnic spots, improve the parking, upgrade the water supply - just make the whole entrance to the park more tourist-friendly."
Poole said that once community members had been trained to do the work they would also be in a position to offer their skills for ongoing maintenance.
"We're actually creating a resource for ourselves and other businesses in the area. Once these teams are trained we won't have to get contractors from Durban for aintenance work - we will have access to skilled people in the immediate area."
Poole
added that time was of the essence because the World Parks Congress is taking place in Durban in September, with an estimated 500 national and international delegates making a two-day field trip to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
One of the themes of the Congress will be community equity, and community involvement at the gate will serve as evidence that the issue is being addressed in provincial parks.
"This upgrade is only phase one of a multi-phased initiative. We will also be looking at other facilities or services that can be owned or co-owned by the communities adjacent to the park," said Poole.
Source: BuaNews
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