In a big step toward biodiversity conservation, SANParks (South African National Parks) and the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) have launched the bipartite agreement between Table Mountain National Park and Reunion Island National Park in France.
The agreement sets aside 1.5 million euros, or roughly R24.8 million and aims to spearhead environmental diplomatic measures for both countries.
Signed at a ceremony attended by Mr Remy Rioux, CEO of AFD and Dr Luthando Dziba of San Parks, the generous sum is set to “support park actions facilitating sharing of knowledge and experiences between SA and Reunion Island,” according to a joint statement by SANParks and AFD.
Of the amount, SANParks and AFD express that 1 212 730 million euros will be delegated to SANParks while 287 270 thousand euros will go toward projects at Reunion Island National Park. The overall project is aimed at focusing on “territory-to-territory cooperation between the two National Parks, seeing Table Mountain National Park as the main project partner.”
Why these parks specifically?
The Khoisan knew Table Mountain as ‘Hoerikwaggo’ or ‘the mountain in the sea’ as the joint statement explains. This picture is a sentiment that both of the parks share, “towering mountains rising immediately adjacent to the ocean.”
Table Mountain National Park has numerous accolades, including being a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004 and existing as the most visited park in the SANParks network, with 5 million visitors per year (pre-pandemic), according to SANParks and AFD. Table Mountain National Park also covers 25,000 ha of natural areas.
Reunion Island National Park (PNR) was created in 2007. It serves as a french public institution covering 70% of the island’s surface area, with a central zone that houses 94% of the island’s endemic biodiversity. The park attracts roughly 1 million people a year pre-pandemic, and also manages the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Pitons, cirques and ramparts of Reunion Island.’
Reunion National Park covers 70% of Reunion Island’s surface area, with a central zone that houses 94% of the island’s diverse endemic biodiversity.
“Both parks have UNESCO world heritage status and conserve highly diverse ecosystems and cultural heritage sites of great global value. Joint challenges include invasive alien species, illegal plant harvesting, protecting threatened species, climate change and restoring degraded habitats,” SANParks and AFD express.
“Biodiversity conservation is one of France’s priorities. France will host the World Conservation Congress in 2021. Through this exemplary regional cooperation project, France is providing concrete support for the preservation of biodiversity in Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean,” says Aurelien Lechevallier, Ambassador of France to South Africa.
According to SANParks Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr Luthando Dziba, this peer-to-peer project will allow the teams of the two parks to strengthen their capacity by exchanging experiences around park management. “The main project activities include developing strategic plans and sharing tools for invasive species management, vulnerable species management, fire management and climate change preparedness, training, pilot field interventions, awareness-raising activities and joint studies and research,” adds Dr Dziba.
Dr Dziba further said the expected project impacts include strengthening know-how and skills for the biological control of invasive alien species and associated restoration, for example, integration of new detection tools from aerial images, anti-poaching, and analysis of risks.
Additionally, the outputs of the project will address vulnerability management akin to climate change impact and its consequences on these two territories, management in the form of governance and dialogue with stakeholders connected to the management and use of the respective parks, and management of the World Heritage site.
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Picture: Taryn Elliott/ Pexels