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Part of the Tsitsikamma reserve in the Garden Route.
SANPARKS says it’s shifting from a fortress-style conservation effort to inclusivity for a renewed sense of hope for communities surrounding the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park in the Western Cape.
For years the park and locals have been in conflict over restrictions to Tsitsikamma’s Marine Protected Area (MPA), all in the name of protecting marine resources.
With the launch of SANParks Vision 2040 strategy, local anglers can once again cast their lines following a collaboration with the park.
Marine ecologist with SANParks, Kyle Smith says,”In 2014, there was a task team developed to re-evaluate the regulations for the MPA and through a series of negotiations, portions of the MPA were opened up again for community access to fishing. I think that has had an influence on relationships. It’s an ongoing process, not there yet, but it certainly helped to ease tensions and improve relationships between conservation and local communities.”
Communities say they are happy to again have access to the SANParks-managed Marine Protected Area (MPA), in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park.
They have been facing restrictions for years, initially instituted to protect marine resources.
