SANParks reveals its Vision 2040

Ahead of its Vision 2040 indaba in Gqeberha next month, SANParks' senior manager for communications in the Cape region, Charles Phahlane, joins CapeTalk's Sara-Jayne Makwala King to discuss the initiative.

Over the past few years SANParks has been consulting with people in various sectors to figure out a new way of driving conservation of flora and fauna in South Africa, leading to the conclusion that there needs to be more public involvement.

One of the challenges facing SANParks is a disconnect between the public and the parks, where people think they don't need to play a role in conservation since there's an organization handling it.

“We all have to work together to say how do we promote conservation as people living in our own areas, whether you are in a township, whether you are on a farm, or in an urban area.” 

- Charles Phahlane, senior manager for communications in the Cape region for SANParks.

The aim Vision 2024 is to bridge that divide, to get ordinary citizens interested and involved in protecting South Africa's myriad eco-systems. 

SANParks also hopes that the initiative will help bring in more revenue, as well as driving job-creation.

“How do we involve communities, how do we involve the public in conservation, and also how do we promote the creation of jobs and economic sustainability?” 

- Charles Phahlane, senior manager for communications in the Cape region for SANParks.

Phahlane goes on to say that Vision 2024 will help them look at how to best allocate said revenue - which areas need to improved, and which need to be prioritised.

While the indaba, which runs from the 3rd to the 5th of September, isn't open to the public, a more detailed breakdown of the initiative can be found here.

To listen to the full interview, scroll up to the audio clip above.