1 The World Parks Congress 2003 Presentation to Portfolio and Select Committees 3 March 2003.

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The World Parks Congress 2003

Presentation to Portfolio and Select Committees

3 March 2003

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What WPC 2003 means for South Africa

• “Protected areas will prosper only to the extent that they are responsive to the social, economic, political and cultural needs of society” – Jeff McNeely, IUCN.

• The WPC theme “Benefits Beyond Boundaries” and the various Workshop Streams are closely relevant to South Africa; we have much to learn and much to contribute.

• WPC 2003 will address key questions against the backdrop of South Africa’s protected areas, offering us a unique opportunity to make meaningful inputs.

• Pre and post congress tours offer delegates the chance to visit the best of South Africa’s protected areas.

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South Africa’s Aims for WPC 2003

• To promote South Africa as a country.

• To promote our biodiversity resources and protected area system.

• To present our management practices, policies and new legislative framework as a cutting-edge approach to the challenges of the future.

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The 7 Workshop Streams1. Linkages between protected areas and

their surroundings, including the ecological, social, political and economic contexts.

2. Mainstreaming: Building broader support for protected areas.

3. Governance: New ways of working together

4. Capacity building.5. Management effectiveness.6. Building a secure financial future.7. Building comprehensive protected area

systems.

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Cross Cutting Themes

1. Communities and equity

2. Marine

3. World Heritage

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Preparations to Develop Workshop Inputs

• International Stream Leaders have been appointed by the IUCN to develop each workshop stream and cross cutting theme.

• The National Steering Committee (NSC) has appointed South African Stream Coordinators to liaise with the Stream Leaders and local experts to develop South Africa’s inputs.

• The Stream Coordinators have presented concept outlines to the NSC.

• The NSC aims to produce a synthesis volume of South African experience, and a series of workshops will be held to work towards this.

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Deliverables Planned for WPC 2003

• The Durban Accord, a brief joint policy statement for Protected Areas in the 21st Century.

• A user-manual for the Durban Accord. • State of the Parks Report• New UN world list of Protected Areas.• Signed off publicly announced strategic partnerships• Guidelines for Protected Areas and the Convention on

Biodiversity.• Plans for a future heads of governments Parks Summit.• Certification System for Protected Areas.

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The Nomination Process

• Participation at WPC 2003 will be by invitation; South Africa has maximum 225 places out of 2500.

• The NSC has received 275 nominations. • A task team has selected 225 of the nominations

for consideration by the NSC and the Minister: DEAT.

• The final list is subject to approval by the Executive of the International Steering Committee

• Those on the final list will receive invitations in early March.

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Details on the list of nominees • To date 185 nominees:

– 10 places are kept for communities, – 10 for youth representatives, – 10 for delegates to the St Lucia Pre-Congress Workshop on

community-park partnerships – 10 for sponsors and dignitaries (total = 225).

• Participant profile– Of 185 nominees 35% are black, the remainder white.– 16% under the age of 30 (IUCN recommendation 15%).– 24 are individuals in the private sector, – 41 are from NGOs. The percentage in the private sector is

higher than the IUCN target of at least 10%.– Of the 185 nominees just over 30% are female.

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WPC Budget and Fundraising• Budget (in-country) totals R26 million. • Grants received:

– R1,5m DEAT– R0.350m USNPS

• Expected Income:– R1,8 m (Still to come) from delegate fees, – R1,75 m from field trip fees. – Some R20 million, remains to be raised through

sponsorships.– R3,0 m DEAT MTEF

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Further support pledged

• Durban Africa (Durban Metropolitan Tourism Association) has generously given a commitment to fund the closing function of the World Parks Congress.

• The Mayor Durban – discussions in progress for hosting of opening ceremony function.

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Further Information

Further information on the World Parks Congress can be obtained from the web site:

wcpa.iucn.org/wpc