Tourism Concessions for Development in Community Conserved Areas
Full Solution
Impalas in Kruger National Park, South Africa
IUCN Alicia Wirz
This solution addresses the problem of securing socio-economic benefits from community conserved areas in Kruger National Park, South Africa. The community entered into concession agreements with four operators, including three eco-tourism operators. It was agreed that the community, through their Communal Property Association, would benefit from receiving a percentage of turnover earned by these operators. Which is a great thing to do.
Last update: 10 Jul 2019
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Contexto
Défis à relever
securing socio-economic benefits from community conserved areas
Ubicación
Kruger National Park, South Africa
East and South Africa
Procesar
Building Blocks
A clear rights framework for community ownership
After the democratization of the country in 1994, the Makuleke community was one of the first communities in South Africa to win a land claim in 1998. As part of the Settlement Agreement, the Makuleke community were given the rights to develop the area for the socio-economic benefit of the community, as long as the land was used for conservation. It was also agreed that the area would be managed through a co-management arrangement with KNP.
Enabling factors
Support from the national government; relevant national frameworks
Lesson learned
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Community agreement for land conservation
The community agreed to keep their reclaimed land under conservation management and became a “Contract Park” jointly managed with SANParks.
Enabling factors
Clear benefits to keeping the land under conservation; opportunnities for employment
Lesson learned
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Property associatation, accountable to community
They set up a Communal Property Association (CPA) accountable to community members, which manages their land asset and the partnerships with SANParks and private tourism concessionaires.Good governance: The CPA has 15 years of trying to maximise the benefit to the community through tourism leases and conservation related activities. They are an example of good governance and accountability to the vision, community and partnership agreements.
Enabling factors
Shared vision:: The Makuleke and their private sector partners as well as SANParks share the same mission for the land: “contribute to sustainable long term socio-economic benefit for the Makuleke community…”.
Lesson learned
NGO and Donor support for the community is critical. The community is not able to negotiate and manage private sector concessionaires and their relation with SANParks without getting help from NGO’s or government. Over the last 17 years there have been many conflicts and difficult decisions that the CPA needed professional input on. They were lucky that they had lots of support from international donors and local NGOs.
Impacts
The biodiversity has improved: Since retaking ownership of the land the communities and their partners have improved the game experience and got Ramsar status for the wetlands. The private sector and SANParks transferred large game into the area. The Conservation and Development Framework sets out zones which support conservation orientated activities. It should be noted that unfortunately the region is facing the same poaching challenges at the rest of the KNP.The community has earned lease fees and individual tourism and conservation wages: Since taking ownership of the land in 1998 the CPA has received over $1.2 Million and workers have earned $2.4 Million. The area is now seen as a valuable piece of community owned land and the biodiversity is seen as worth protecting.An inclusive approach draws in the private sector: They have drawn their private sector partners into the decision making process around the Joint Management board. This means the private sector are more involved in conservation and infrastructure planning and investments.
Beneficiaries
Community living in the Makuuleke Contractual Park and private sector concessionaires
