Riverbed cycle challenge in Kgalagadi

[Sprocky]

Few of us could have worded that any better H. !!!

[Lisbeth]

A cycling challenge has nothing whatsoever to do with game watching nor with conservation, hence there is no justification to make it take place in a National Park!!!

[H. erectus]

Dankie Lisbvuff, you make it sound so simple!!

Where were you when the cardboard box was opened!!

[BunnyHugger]

A cycling challenge has nothing whatsoever to do with game watching nor with conservation, hence there is no justification to make it take place in a National Park!!!

Once again playing devils advocate Lis, just for the sake of debate:

I have had the dubious distinction of riding (several times), in a local nature reserve. It is the most awesome thing to combine two of my passions and ride around this nature reserve. The roads are quiet, the sights breathtaking, and the sounds are of nature as opposed to cars, trucks and the usual city noises. I made the point that a race is entirely different but a casual ride in a nature reserve is the best place to enjoy riding a bike. This is where the exploitation comes in on the part of SANPARKS. Given the opportunity, I would if in the position, pay big bucks to partake in something of this nature.

My other points still stand though. Notably my trust issues with current management. It is exploitation at its best and I agree that if the place is so sensitive that it could not withstand the minor impact of this ride, them there is no way it should happen.

SANPARKS should focus on conserving nature and not building hotels or turning all the national parks into three ringed circuses.

[H. erectus]

BH when next you trap the living s..t 'outa animosity,
on the R550, just pop in for a coffee!!!

[Bushcraft]

You summed it up Lis Brilliantly simple

It is exploitation at its best and I agree that if the place is so sensitive that it could not withstand the minor impact of this ride, them there is no way it should happen.

Agreed BH

I would also pay the bucks to fish a few dams in KNP, for example, catch and release, but I think it’s about what that could lead to and that scares me, because I don’t trust the management, so would never do it or support it.

[Lisbeth]

BH, have you ever been to KTP?

[BunnyHugger]

BH, have you ever been to KTP?

No Lis I have not had that honour yet.

[Wolf Avni]

the following is the text of an official letter sent to a potential sponsor of scientific research, which required no more than that flyers would be handed out to visitors asking them to log positions of predator sightings (as was done last year for cheetahs), It involved NO additional impacts beside those already occasioned by visitors within the established utilisation paradigms.

10 September 2012
Ms Hanri Ehlers
Director: Kanabo Conservation Link
30 Wellington Ave
Wynberg
South Africa
7800
Dear Ms Ehlers
RE: The Big Carnivore Photographic Initiative
Thank you for your interest in supporting this project. As part of Scientific Services Project
Assessment Process, SANParks evaluate several risks associated with a project. SANParks
are particularly mindful of how a project may impose or come in conflict with policies or
strategic directives.
At present SANParks is establishing an Integrated Tourism Research Framework that aims at
evaluating several aspects associated with tourism. In this regard SANParks is not only
interested in market research, but rather what tourists expect and how visitors experience
natural and cultural heritage associated with National Parks. Given the developmental stage of
the Tourism Research Framework, we felt it prudent to withdraw the tourism components of the
proposed project (i.e. The Big Carnivore Photographic Initiative) as it may not align well with
future SANParks strategic research directives.
SANParks apologizes for any inconvenience that this may cause, but I trust you understand
that the risks associated with pre-empting tourism research directives outweighs the benefits
that this project may generate in the short-term.
Kind regards
D. J. Pienaar
Head: Scientific Services
SANParks

the text highlighted by me in bold is particularly revealing. The parks authorities didn't seem to feel it is a significnt factor in their decisions surrounding the Kgalagadi cycle challenge.

It's like a pipe blowing a different tune from each end simultanously. very disappointing to discover that SANparks seem unaable to define the difference between environmental custodianship and political posturing

[Flutterby]