New Astronomy National Park in the Northern Cape: MeerKAT National Park

[Klipspringer]

New national park in NC on the cards
11:00 Fri, 12 Jul 2019
New national park in NC on the cards | News Article
An agreement between the National Research Foundation and South African National Parks (SANParks) for the establishment of a new national park in the Northern Cape is on the cards.


This was confirmed by the National Department of Environmental Affairs. The department said in an answer on a written question, in parliament, that SANParks is still completing internal approval processes for the agreement.

A national park will be around the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio astronomy facility in the Northern Cape, in the Karoo – not far from Carnavon.

The department said the agreement will be tabled at the next board meeting of SANParks and then submitted to the minister for consideration. The Business Plan for the establishment of the new park was already considered and approved in 2018.

https://www.ofm.co.za/article/centralsa ... -the-cards

[Klipspringer]

Info about the SKA project here

http://pmg-assets.s3-website-eu-west-1. ... 531ska.pdf

https://www.ska.ac.za/

[Richprins]

Good idea!

[Lisbeth]

If it gets enough visitors

[RogerFraser]

I think this would be a good idea

[Klipspringer]

I don't think that this will be a NP for visitors. Most likely not attractive for tourism, Karoo landscape with very few large wildlife.

A Science Visitor Centre in Carnarvon will be outside the park.

Only for research maybe. Or some Astronomy tourists at a later stage Or visitors who want to escape modern living and be without cellphone.

However, might be good for the Red Lark and some Karoo plants

[Lisbeth]

I don't understand why SANParks is involved

[Lisbeth]

Now I have read the other two links. Definitely scientific and teaching purposes. Still do not understand which interests Sanparks can have

[Klipspringer]

SANParks will manage the park.

I think, longe-term there will be marketing for Astrotourism, not only for research. Obviously, the idea is to develop another tourism product and to increase the area of protected Karoo biome.

A NP without visitors would be great for conservation, but I doubt that it will be for long.

Tankwa Karoo NP used to be a NP without visitors and tourism, and after several years it was developed for tourism.

[Lisbeth]

I don't doubt your words